Omar S. McDoom
Former Research Fellow, Intrastate Conflict Program/International Security Program, 2004-2007; Former Associate, Intrastate Conflict Program/International Security Program, 2007-2008
Experience
Former Research Fellow, Intrastate Conflict Program/International Security Program, 2004-2007; Former Associate, Intrastate Conflict Program/International Security Program, 2007-2008
Current Affiliation: Doctoral Candidate in Development Studies, London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom
AP Images
Fall 2012
"The Psychology of Threat in Intergroup Conflict: Emotions, Rationality, and Opportunity in the Rwandan Genocide"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 2, volume 37
By Omar S. McDoom, Former Research Fellow, Intrastate Conflict Program/International Security Program, 2004-2007; Former Associate, Intrastate Conflict Program/International Security Program, 2007-2008
Group emotions, fear in particular, play an important role in how security threats polarize social groups. The case of the Rwanadan genocide demonstrates that four psychosocial mechanisms (boundary activation, outgroup derogation, outgroup homogenization, and ingroup cohesion) play an important role in group polarization, and that fear is a crucial driver of these mechanisms. A more thorough understanding of how security threats activate group polarization could help policymakers to minimize intergroup conflict.
December 2005
"Rwanda's Ordinary Killers: Interpreting Popular Participation in the Rwandan Genocide"
Working Paper
By Omar S. McDoom, Former Research Fellow, Intrastate Conflict Program/International Security Program, 2004-2007; Former Associate, Intrastate Conflict Program/International Security Program, 2007-2008
This paper examines the question of why so many ordinary Hutu participated in genocidal killing of Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994.
Fall 2005
"Reclaiming Childhood for Child Soldiers in Africa"
Newsletter Article, Belfer Center Newsletter
By Omar S. McDoom, Former Research Fellow, Intrastate Conflict Program/International Security Program, 2004-2007; Former Associate, Intrastate Conflict Program/International Security Program, 2007-2008
The soldier on guard at the camp for internally displaced persons awakes to gunshots and screams. He picks up his AK47 and hurries to confront his enemy. Only his enemy is about 4 feet tall and 11 years old. But he does not hesitate to pull the trigger because he knows that in this war, doubt kills.
December 24, 2004
"Congo: Calling the UN and the African Union"
Op-Ed, International Herald Tribune
By Omar S. McDoom, Former Research Fellow, Intrastate Conflict Program/International Security Program, 2004-2007; Former Associate, Intrastate Conflict Program/International Security Program, 2007-2008
"The prospect of yet a third war in the lawless east of the Democratic Republic of Congo presents an opportunity for UN peacekeeping to redeem a tarnished reputation and for the African Union to assert its regional leadership...."
