Governing in the Shadows: Angola's Securitized State (African Arguments) - Softcover

Roque, Paula Cristina

Softcover

ISBN 10: 019762989X ISBN 13: 9780197629895

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA, 2022

Synopsis

This book traces three decades of securitization in Angola. As a governing strategy during war and peacetime, it muted the aspirations of those on opposing sides, distorted the state, emboldened elites and redefined the identity of Angolans. Through this lens, Paula Cristina Roque provides an original account of Angola's post-conflict state-building.

Securitization protected the interests of President dos Santos, the ruling MPLA party and the elites supporting the regime. Angola's array of security forces and infrastructure provided an alternative to a fully functioning executive, at national, provincial and local levels. The intrusive way in which any form of dissent or activism was crushed allowed the presidency to control the direction and narrative of the post-war years. But the facade of democracy, development and stability hid a very different reality for the majority of Angolans, who remained poor, disenfranchised and marginalized.

Roque explores the inner workings of the intelligence services, army and presidential guard, explaining the trajectory of a survivalist and fearful regime presiding over scarcities and injustices. She shows that the survival of national security and governing elites was the highest priority. The 'shadows' held far more power than institutions, and weakened them-widening the gap between government and governed.

About this title

About the Author

Paula Cristina Roque has been an independent analyst on Angola for two decades. She has worked for the Crisis Management Initiative established by Martti Ahtisaari; the South Sudan Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies, Juba; and the International Crisis Group, as senior analyst for Southern Africa (Angola and Mozambique).

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 019762989X
• ISBN 13: 9780197629895
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 295