Jermaine McCalpin: Truth and Reconciliation Commission after the 1972 Genocide in Burundi

In this episode, Jermaine McCalpin joins us for an in-depth conversation on the overlooked 1972 genocide in Burundi. We discuss the historical and political conditions that led to the violence, the colonial construction of ethnic identities, and why Burundi remains absent from most global genocide narratives. Drawing from his fieldwork and oral history projects, McCalpin reflects on the challenges of memory, reconciliation, and international recognition, and shares insights from leading student research trips to the region.00:00 | Introduction & Biography01:52 | Overview of the 1972 Burundi Genocide05:52 | Specific Causes and Political Context in Burundi09:24 | Pre-Colonial Social Divisions and Belgian Reinforcement13:58 | Why the Burundian Genocide Is Marginalized16:35 | Fieldwork and Student Research Trips to Burundi18:33 | Student Reflections and Key Moments from the Field20:37 | Teaching Genocide: Preparing Students for Difficult Topics22:52 | Testimonies and Survivor Stories25:16 | The Reconciliation Process in Burundi29:47 | International Actors and Forced Reconciliation Models35:18 | Role of the International Community37:09 | Post-Genocide Ethnic Dynamics in Burundi Today39:37 | Public Perception of Instability and Violence41:53 | Intergenerational Legacies of Genocide47:22 | Ethnic Identity and Storytelling in Burundi48:13 | Education and Genocide Memory51:11 | Global Support for Burundi’s Healing and Recognition