Warlord democrats in Africa : ex-military leaders and electoral politics / edited by Anders Themnér.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Themnér, Anders, editor.

Series:

Africa now (Zed Books)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political leadership--Africa.

Political leadership.

Politicians.

Africa.

Politicians--Africa.

Democracy--Africa.

Democracy.

Africa--Politics and government--1960-.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

x, 254 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Uppsala, Sweden : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, The Nordic Africa Institute ; London : Zed Books, 2017.

Summary:

Post-war democratization has been identified as a crucial mechanism to build peace in war-ridden societies, supposedly allowing belligerents to compete through ballots rather than bullets. A byproduct of this process, however, is that military leaders often become an integral part of the new democratic system, using resources and networks generated from the previous war to dominate the emerging political landscape. The crucial and thus-far overlooked question to be addressed, therefore, is what effect the inclusion of ex-militaries into electoral politics has on post-war security. Can 'warlord democrats' make a positive contribution by shepherding their wartime constituencies to support the budding of peace and democracy, or are they likely to use their electoral platforms to sponsor political violence and keep war-affected communities mobilized through aggressive discourses? This importance volume, containing a wealth of fresh empirical detail and theoretical insight, and focussing on some of Africa's most high-profile political figures - from Paul Kagame to Riek Machar to Afonso Dhlakama - represents a crucial intervention in the literature of post-war democratization. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Pompier-pyromanocracy: Mbusa Nyamwisi and the DR Congo's inflammable post-settlement political order / Judith Verweijen Verweijen, Judith 41

2 Apotheosis of a warlord: Paul Kagame / Lars Waldorf Waldorf, Lars 68

3 Discourses of peace and fear: the electoral navigations of Sekou Conneh and Prince Johnson in post-war Liberia / Carrie Manning Manning, Carrie, Anders Themnér Themnér, Anders 95

4 Afonso Dhlakama and RENAMO's return to armed conflict since 2013: the politics of reintegration in Mozambique / Alex Vines Vines, Alex 121

5 From warlord to drug lord: the life of João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira / Henrik Vigh Vigh, Henrik 156

6 Shape-shifters in the struggle for survival: post-war politics in Sierra Leone / Mimmi Söderberg Kovacs Kovacs, Mimmi Söderberg, Ibrahim Bangura Bangura, Ibrahim 177

7 Riek Machar: warlord-doctor in South Sudan / Johan Brosché Brosché, Johan, Kristine Höglund Höglund, Kristine 199.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781783602490

178360249X

9781783602483

1783602481

OCLC:

957508086