by Adam Branch and Zachariah Mampilly
Interview with the authors posted on
What role does the mantra of unity and prosperity through ‘developmentalism’ have on the success or otherwise of protest movements, or the willingness to oppose actions of the state?
 |
"In some cases, such as Uganda, it is clearly the failure to effect substantive change in the living conditions of the urban poor that helps give rise to protest. In other cases, states have adopted developmental policies to quell protest – Ethiopia is the key example, which put in place an intensive developmental program as a response to the 2005 popular uprising against Meles Zenawi’s regime. However, this is authoritarian developmentalism, in which jobs and infrastructure go hand-in-hand with a tremendous expansion of the state security apparatus throughout society. Thus, whether today’s authoritarian developmentalism can actually address popular grievances or whether it is just keeping a lid on increasing popular frustration is uncertain – but we would note the continued eruption of minor protests throughout Ethiopia’s urban areas even in the face of state repression"
read more...
It highlight the established narratives "authoritarian developmentalism' post Cold War and supported by the international community in the command centers verses the delayed popular democratic aspiration of the population at grassroots.
Whether Africa Rising or Uprising depends who you ask and where the camera (Media) is focused. The fact the book, Africa Uprising is published and the debate is outside of Africa by itself points where the command center may be and the quest of Africans to own it.
No comments:
Post a Comment