Warlords in Africa : a comparative study of Jonas Savimbi and Farah Aideed

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorSteenkamp, C. J.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLawack, Marvin Sylvesteren_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science.
dc.date.accessioned2008-11-27T08:41:55Zen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2010-06-01T08:46:54Z
dc.date.available2008-11-27T08:41:55Zen_ZA
dc.date.available2010-06-01T08:46:54Z
dc.date.issued2008-12
dc.descriptionThesis (MA (Political Science. International Studies))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
dc.description.abstractAbstract: The African continent has been riddled with conflict for many years. Angola and Somalia are prime examples of countries having experienced protracted wars. During those wars, warlords have played a definite role in perpetuating the fighting. The thesis investigates warlordism in Africa. Specifically, it is a comparative analysis of Jonas Savimbi of Angola and Farah Aideed of Somalia. The thesis investigates the concept of warlords and uses the examples of Aideed and Savimbi to illustrate the impact of warlords on the respective countries. The examples of Aideed and Savimbi are further used to show that there are different ways to becoming ultimately labelled as a warlord. The role of state weakness and ethnicity will be investigated in the two cases. The discussion will highlight the points that state weakness (i.e. lack of governmental functionality) and the use of ethnicity play a profound role in the rise and survival of warlords. The case studies of Aideed and Savimbi will emphasise the influence of state weakness and ethnicity in their formation as warlords. The concept of state weakness is defined and the thesis illustrates that there are different levels of state weakness. The thesis compares Angola and Somalia, and shows that Savimbi and Aideed acted under vastly different conditions as warlords. Ethnicity is defined and linked to the idea that the effects of colonialism played a profound role in creating ethnic divisions, enabling warlords such as Aideed and Savimbi to use their ethnic backgrounds to mobilise followers to wage war. The thesis investigates how Aideed and Savimbi maintained their military organisations. Their ability to do so is related to both state weakness and ethnicity. State weakness and ethnicity create conditions which are conducive to the emergence of warlords.en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2359
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch University
dc.subjectWarlordsen_ZA
dc.subjectAfricaen_ZA
dc.subjectSavimbien_ZA
dc.subjectAideeden_ZA
dc.subjectTheses -- Political scienceen_ZA
dc.subjectDissertations -- Political scienceen_ZA
dc.subject.geogAngola -- Politics and government -- 961-1975en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshPolitical leadership -- Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshWarlordism and international relationsen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshAngola -- Politics and government -- 1975-en_ZA
dc.subject.nameSavimbi, Jonas Malheiroen_ZA
dc.subject.nameAidid, Mohammed Farah,1934-en_ZA
dc.titleWarlords in Africa : a comparative study of Jonas Savimbi and Farah Aideeden_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
lawack_warlords_2008.pdf
Size:
444.5 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters Degrees (Political Science)