Making of Modern Africa – serie

Based on a decade of first-hand experience and secondary research, this richly detailed study follows daily life in four villages in Tanzania. Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, this comprehensive account examines the regional economy, determinants of civil society and implications for democratization, AIDS, population growth, refugees, crops and goods and implications for development. Charles David Smith brings together well over 200 interviews and his own experience of everyday events, providing a constructive critique of current initiatives and a potent new direction that has so far been under-explored by existing bodies. An essential text for all serious students and researchers interested in development.

Over much of Africa, crime and insurgency are a serious problem and one in which the distinction between the two is being eroded.  Left without state protection people have sought to preserve their lives and property through vigilante groups and militias that pay scant attention to the law or human rights.  Likewise, the state security forces, under pressure to cut crime and rebel activity, readily discard lawful procedures.  Torture provides them with vital information, whilst extra-judicial executions save the need to go through the prolonged criminal justice system. After a general overview of the role of the rule of law in a democratic society, Bruce Baker provides five case studies that capture the current complex realities and their impact on the new democracies.  The citizen responses considered are vigilantes in East African pastoral economies, The Bakassi Boys an anti-crime group in Nigeria and private policing initiatives in South Africa.  The state responses are those of the Ugandan Defence Forces towards the Lords Resistance Army, the Senegalese army towards the Casamance secessionists and the Mozambique Police response towards criminals.

Based on a decade of first-hand experience and secondary research, this richly detailed study follows daily life in four villages in Tanzania. Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, this comprehensive account examines the regional economy, determinants of civil society and implications for democratization, AIDS, population growth, refugees, crops and goods and implications for development. Charles David Smith brings together well over 200 interviews and his own experience of everyday events, providing a constructive critique of current initiatives and a potent new direction that has so far been under-explored by existing bodies. An essential text for all serious students and researchers interested in development.