Previous page | New search |
The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here
Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | The popularisation of political violence in Congo |
Author: | Bazenguissa-Ganga, Remy |
Year: | 2000 |
Periodical: | CODESRIA Bulletin |
Issue: | 1 |
Pages: | 55-59 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Congo (Republic of) |
Subjects: | violence political conflicts |
Abstract: | The popularization of political violence in Congo is a result of the conjunction of the political strategies employed by the elite and the mechanisms that spring from independent social reality. The democratization process initiated in 1991 was reinterpreted, as it were, by Congolese social dynamics. While those in power attempted to return to an authoritarian system, by trying to increase their power through the organizations controlling political violence, certain members of the population used the same weapons to avoid being excluded. This process occurred in four stages: the populace of Brazzaville became an independent political actor, militias made up of youths from Brazzaville came into being, the power of people from small towns and villages in the political sphere increased, and the identity of 'militia member' was assigned to all young people in Congo. During each successive period, violent phenomena tended to involve a larger part of the population and their impact grew increasingly stronger until they took the form of all-out war in December 1998. Ref. |