Reconciliation as a Path to Rebuilding the Country. A Comparison of Rwanda and Poland in the Last 30 Years

Abstract

The 1994 genocide in Rwanda and the political and social changes in Poland permanently marked both countries. From then on, a new chapter began in them, which became a chance to rebuild the country on new principles. Rwanda immediately began creating a new vision of the state according to a new political vision under strict state control. Reconciliation was included in the government agenda of the new Rwanda. Poland left the sphere of reconciliation to the private sphere of citizens. Research was conducted on the state of reconciliation in Rwanda. This allowed us to learn the opinions of Rwandans on the understanding and state of reconciliation in Rwanda. The presented article presents the state of reconciliation in Rwanda and Poland as a tool for rebuilding the state after a turbulent history.