The aim of this project is to examine the role of persistent negative collective memories
in the Hutu-Tutsi conflict in Burundi and explore strategies to positively impact those memories.
Collective memories are a new area of study in the conflict resolution field. Thus far, the field
has focused primarily on “putting the past in the past” in order to “focus on the present”. For
many countries, unresolved historical differences between parties continue to manifest in present
day conflicts, such as in Burundi, Rwanda, Armenia, and Yugoslavia. Therefore, the need to
confront history is an important endeavor for states that have opposing views and unresolved
historical grievances between conflicting groups. By the end of this paper I intend to: 1) define
collective memories and explain how negative collective memories exacerbate conflict; 2)
explain the research methodology; 3) analyze the role of negative collective memories and how
they have contributed to escalating ethnic tension leading to violence during Burundi’s bloodiest
years: 1965, 1972, 1988, 1991 and 1993; and 4) provide recommendations to positively impact
negative collective memories in Burundi. Persistent negative collective memories perpetuate
ethnic tension leading to violence.