Masters Degrees (Political Science)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Political Science) by browse.metadata.type "Masters"

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    Drugs, death squads and politicians : the rise of non-state armed actors in Rio de Janeiro
    (2019-12) Van Dalen, Daniel; Van der Westhuizen, Janis; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research presented serves to illuminate historical state actions that allowed for non-state armed actors to rise to prominence in Rio de Janeiro, specifically between 1964 to 2018. This is done by working through the research question: Why and How Have Non-State Armed Actors Emerged in Rio de Janeiro? Numerous geographic locations, specifically the favelas – informal housing- of Rio de Janeiro are under the control of traffickers and rogue police units. How does this happen in the world’s 9th largest economy? Previously the topic of non-state armed actors in Rio de Janeiro has been examined from sociological and anthropological approaches. This research addresses the topic from a political science focus by making use of a variety of state-focused and state societal relations theories. A single case study, exploratory design was chosen to provide an in-depth approach to the topic which had received little attention in the field of political science. Since no single theory allowed the topic to be explored in-depth, a framework was developed based on a variety of state-focused and state societal relations theories. Due to the lack of English literature available on certain topics, a combination of desktop and field research was required, which entailed spending one month in Rio de Janeiro, speaking to a variety of stakeholders. Each case study chapter explores a specific time period, highlighting key political, societal and economic events that took place. The events are examined through the lens of the created framework to explore how these actions created the context for non-state armed actors such as trafficking groups and rogue police units, or rather militias, to control segments of territory in Rio de Janeiro. While each chapter provides different time periods, there were salient consistencies. Historical police brutality, alienating favela residents, poor economic decision making by the state, and the lack of survival mechanisms for those living in poverty created the context for another actor to fill the void left by the state. By providing resources such as physical security, economic opportunities and infrastructure upgrades, traffickers won favour from favela residents. Over time rogue policing units, or known as militias, would combat trafficker control of favelas through coercive means. Once under control, there would be protection taxes and the control of service and commodities. The traffickers and the militias were able to garner support and control over geographic areas within Rio de Janeiro through either coercive means or the provision of resources. This could only be done because the state had failed to provide an environment of survivability for its most vulnerable citizens while being unable to effectively control the emergence and growth of non-state armed actors.