📖 Overview
Timothy Longman is a Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Boston University, specializing in state-society relations in Africa, particularly Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
His most notable work, "Christianity and Genocide in Rwanda" (2010), examines the role of Christian churches in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The book analyzes how religious institutions became implicated in the violence and explores the complex relationship between religion and politics in Rwanda.
Longman served as director of the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley and conducted extensive field research in Rwanda during the 1990s. His research focuses on human rights, transitional justice, democratization, and religion in politics.
As a recognized expert on the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Longman has provided testimony to the U.S. Congress and various international bodies. His work has been published in numerous academic journals and he continues to research state-society relations, particularly focusing on post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation in Rwanda.
👀 Reviews
Readers value Longman's firsthand research and academic authority on Rwanda, particularly in "Christianity and Genocide in Rwanda." Multiple reviewers note his balanced analysis of religious institutions' complicity in the genocide.
What readers liked:
- Detailed documentation and extensive field research
- Clear examination of church-state relationships
- Accessible writing style for complex topics
- Thorough historical context
What readers disliked:
- Academic tone can be dense for general readers
- Some sections repeat information
- Limited coverage of post-genocide reconciliation efforts
- High price point for academic text
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.1/5 (43 ratings)
Amazon: 4.5/5 (12 reviews)
One reader on Goodreads noted: "Provides crucial insights into how religious institutions can become entangled in political violence." An Amazon reviewer highlighted: "The field research and interviews give authenticity to his analysis that other books on Rwanda lack."
📚 Books by Timothy Longman
Christianity and Genocide in Rwanda (2010)
An analysis of Christian churches' involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, examining how religious institutions became complicit in violence and exploring church-state relations before and during the conflict based on extensive field research.
Limited Justice: The Legacy of International Criminal Justice in Rwanda (2017) A detailed study of how international criminal tribunals and domestic courts dealt with justice and accountability following Rwanda's genocide, drawing from interviews and court observations.
Memory and Justice in Post-Genocide Rwanda (2019) An examination of Rwanda's post-genocide reconciliation efforts, transitional justice mechanisms, and the government's official narrative about the past, based on long-term field research.
Limited Justice: The Legacy of International Criminal Justice in Rwanda (2017) A detailed study of how international criminal tribunals and domestic courts dealt with justice and accountability following Rwanda's genocide, drawing from interviews and court observations.
Memory and Justice in Post-Genocide Rwanda (2019) An examination of Rwanda's post-genocide reconciliation efforts, transitional justice mechanisms, and the government's official narrative about the past, based on long-term field research.
👥 Similar authors
Philip Gourevitch authored "We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families," providing firsthand accounts of the Rwandan genocide and its aftermath. His investigative work in Rwanda parallels Longman's research on the social and political dynamics of the genocide.
René Lemarchand specializes in the Great Lakes region of Africa and has written extensively about Burundi, Rwanda, and the DR Congo. His work "The Dynamics of Violence in Central Africa" examines regional conflicts and their interconnections.
Mahmood Mamdani wrote "When Victims Become Killers," analyzing the political history leading to the Rwandan genocide. His focus on colonialism's impact and political identity in Africa aligns with Longman's examination of state-society relations.
Catharine Newbury published "The Cohesion of Oppression," examining power relationships and social transformation in Rwanda. Her research on Rwandan political structures provides context similar to Longman's work on institutional roles in conflict.
Scott Straus wrote "The Order of Genocide," investigating the mechanisms of violence during the Rwandan genocide through extensive fieldwork. His research methodology and focus on local dynamics mirror Longman's approach to studying regional conflicts.
René Lemarchand specializes in the Great Lakes region of Africa and has written extensively about Burundi, Rwanda, and the DR Congo. His work "The Dynamics of Violence in Central Africa" examines regional conflicts and their interconnections.
Mahmood Mamdani wrote "When Victims Become Killers," analyzing the political history leading to the Rwandan genocide. His focus on colonialism's impact and political identity in Africa aligns with Longman's examination of state-society relations.
Catharine Newbury published "The Cohesion of Oppression," examining power relationships and social transformation in Rwanda. Her research on Rwandan political structures provides context similar to Longman's work on institutional roles in conflict.
Scott Straus wrote "The Order of Genocide," investigating the mechanisms of violence during the Rwandan genocide through extensive fieldwork. His research methodology and focus on local dynamics mirror Longman's approach to studying regional conflicts.