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Abstract
Lee Ann Fujii (3 January 1962 - 2 March 2018) was an American political scientist, author, and professor. Born to American parents of Japanese descent, who had met when they were interned during World War II, her family’s history gave her first-hand experiences in the world of political violence, and her research on the subject of violence, race, and ethnicity are held in high esteem within the academic community. Fujii graduated from Reed College in Portland, Oregon with a BA in Music, and then worked in the acting and tech industry in San Fransisco before pursuing her master's degree. She graduated with an MA in International Relations from San Fransisco State University in 2001, with a thesis on the Rwandan Genocide. This research is reflected in her first published book, Killing Neighbors: Webs of Violence in Rwanda. This seminal work focuses on the relationship between the social environment of communities and political violence, as well as how in the case of Rwanda, the perpetrators and instigators of the genocide filled other roles as well, that of “heroes” and “saviors”, often engaging in acts of kindness and generosity on top of acts of terror. Before her sudden passing, Fujii was busy working on another book, Show Time: The Logic and Power of Violent Display, which analyzes violent actors in Bosnia, Rwanda, and the United States and how their actions aren’t just for personal gain or satisfaction, but done to influence individuals and the larger community. The way Fujii thought of violence, and the way she wrote about it in Killing Neighbors and Show Time alludes back to her career as an actor. She relates acts of violence to that of a performance with staging and theatrics; she understood that groups who committed these acts would do so publicly to send a message to the ruling powers.
Published Works
Killing Neighbors: Webs of Violence in Rwanda