Beyond Civil Society: Child Soldiers as Citizens in Mozambique

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Periodical article

Title:	Beyond Civil Society: Child Soldiers as Citizens in Mozambique
Author:	Thompson, Carol B.
Year:	1999
Periodical:	Review of African Political Economy
Volume:	26
Issue:	80
Period:	June
Pages:	191-206
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Mozambique
Subjects:	political systems child soldiers nationalism Military, Defense and Arms
External links:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03056249908704378 http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4136B05D31116D518041
Abstract:	Documentation on the war of destabilization in Mozambique over more than a decade shows that Renamo systematically recruited boys to train as soldiers; girls became personal servants, including sexual services. Documentation also shows that the government of Mozambique forcefully conscripted some unemployed urban youth (14-16 years). On the basis of the case of Mozambique, this study raises questions about current theorizing about the destruction of community caused by the use of child soldiers, suggesting that the use of child soldiers and their reintegration may require displacing theories of civil society as a corollary to democracy. The study further analyses why the reintegration of boy soldiers and other 'children under difficult circumstances' was relativey successful in Mozambique. It shows that community values and community organizing are reintegrating Mozambican children, not the formal institutions of the State, nor of the opposition parties, nor of the economy. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum.