Jérôme Ballet, François‐Régis Mahieu and Katia Radja
To analyze the impact of policy on people's identities, and the conflicts which can result from this.
Abstract
Purpose
To analyze the impact of policy on people's identities, and the conflicts which can result from this.
Design/methodology/approach
The case of the Rwanda genocide is used to examine identity disturbances related to policies.
Findings
Identity adjustments generated by policies can have devastating effects such as genocide. This raises the issue of national decision makers' responsibilities as well as those of the international institutions advocating and enforcing such policies.
Research limitations/implications
This study implies that we need to consider the impacts of policies on people's identities and to extend such empirical research.
Practical implications
The issue of institutions' responsibilities must be discussed, for both national and international institutions; and a precautionary principle in decision making must be set for expert advisors.
Originality/value
The paper addresses the links between economic policies and their effects on individual identity, an area which has not yet been examined in economic studies.