From bullies to officers and gentlemen : how notions of professionalism and civility transformed the Ghana Armed Forces / Humphrey Asamoah Agyekum.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Agyekum, Humphrey Asamoah, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Military socialization--Ghana.

Military socialization.

Ghana. Armed Forces--Military life.

Ghana.

Ghana. Armed Forces.

Soldiers--Ghana--Conduct of life.

Soldiers.

Civil-military relations--Ghana.

Civil-military relations.

Ghana. Armed Forces--History.

History.

Armed Forces.

Armed Forces--Military life.

Soldiers--Conduct of life.

Conduct of life.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xi, 239 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Berghahn Books, 2019.

Summary:

Based on unprecedented access to the Ghanaian military barracks and inspired by the recent resurgence of coups in West Africa, Agyekum assesses why and how the Ghana Armed Forces were transformed from an organization that actively orchestrated coups into an institution that accepts the authority of the democratically elected civilian government. Focusing on the process of professionalization of the Ghanaian military, this ethnography based monograph examines both historical and contemporary themes, and assesses the shift in military personnel from `Buga Buga' soldiers - uneducated, lower-class soldiers, human rights abusers - to a more 'modern' fighting force.

Contents:

The breakdown of everydayness

On hierarchy and trust: 'monkeys play by sizes'

On discipline: disciplining the body and the mind

New soldiers on the block: from Buga-Buga soldier to disciplined soldier subjects

Factors of continual subjection

Transformation in broad perspective: professionalism, civility and civil-military relations.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Agyekum, Humphrey Asamoah, author. From bullies to officers and gentlemen

ISBN:

9781789202946

1789202949

OCLC:

1078413523