Defensive development, combative contradictions

Towards an international political sociology of global militarism in Africa

Dados Bibliográficos

ID5680906
AutoresR Abrahamsen (0000-0002-9001-3782, University of Ottawa, autor correspondente)
Ano2019
Volume19
Fascículo6
Páginas543-562
Data de publicação2019-11-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoConflict Security and Development (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1467-8802 • E-ISSN: 1478-1174
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14678802.2019.1688960
OpenAlexW2991819319
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas8
Referências citadas45

Drawing on international political sociology, this article shows how the merger of development and security has become part of the ideational architecture that facilitates a new ‘feel-good’ militarism in Africa. Contemporary international reform efforts are designed to restrain military power in the name of development, democracy and civilian oversight, but also to strengthen the coercive capacities of African security institutions and make them more efficient in the global fight against violent extremism. Such defensive development efforts have implications for the historically problematic relationship of the African state with modern forms of organised force, reconfiguring and recalibrating relations and dynamics between the state, military forces and external actors. The article concludes that defensive development is fraught with combative contradictions and risks becoming the handmaiden not only of increased militaristic violence, but also of oppression and the restriction of freedom and democracy

Democracy · International relations · International security · Militarism · Oppression · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Gender, Security, and Conflict · Global Security and Public Health · Law · Peacebuilding and International Security