One Hundred Days of Silence: America and the Rwanda Genocide

by Jared Cohen

One Hundred Days of Silence is an important investigation into the 1994 Rwandan genocide and American foreign policy. During one hundred days of spring, eight-hundred thousand Rwandan Tutsis and sympathetic Hutus were slaughtered in one of the most atrocious events of the twentieth century. Drawing on declassified documents and testimony of policy makers, Jared Cohen critically reconstructs the historical account of tacit policy that led to nonintervention. His analysis examines the questions of what the United States knew about the genocide and how the world's most powerful nation turned a blind eye. The study reveals the ease at which an administration can not only fail to intervene but also silence discussion of the crisis. The book argues that despite the extent of the genocide the American government was not motivated to act due to a lack of economic interest. With precision and passion, One Hundred Days of Silence frames the debate surrounding this controversial history.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 2006

Reviews

[Stewie Eskridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very informative book about the Rwandan Genocide which I don’t often hear that much about. I learned that it was mostly women and children that died. I also learned that Hutu nationalists committed the atrocities against the Tutsi population. This book is mostly about America’s role in watching it happen. I also didn’t know it was done with gardening tools which was scary.

[Becky Peitsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - learned a lot and found the book surprisingly readable even though it is written more like a colleg text. Very narrow scope of discussion revolving around US started dept and diplomatic responses in spring 1994. Good read, wished it had painted a bit more outside those lines.