FROM PROTEST TO TERROR-VIOLENCE - THE AFRICAN EXPERIENCE (FROM INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD, 1978, BY MARIUS LIVINGSTON - SEE NCJ-52737)

• NCJ Number: 52743
• Author(s): C C MOJEKWU
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Greenwood Publishing Group
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THE PROCESS OF TERRORISM IN AFRICA THAT INVOLVES THE SOURCE OF VIOLENCE OR THE PERPETRATOR, THE TARGET OF VIOLENCE, AND THE VICTIM OF VIOLENCE IS CONSIDERED.

Abstract

TRANSNATIONAL TERRORISTS ARE ENGAGED IN DANGEROUS AND DESPERATE BEHAVIOR. IN THIS REGARD, IT IS NECESSARY TO DETERMINE WHERE FREEDOM FIGHTING ENDS AND TERRORISM BEGINS AND WHERE MERE PROTEST ENDS AND VIOLENCE ENSUES. AFRICA HAS BEEN THE TARGET AND THE VICTIM OF INTERNATIONAL TERROR AND VIOLENCE SINCE THE 15TH CENTURY. FROM THE AFRICAN'S POINT OF VIEW, THE INTRODUCTION OF CUBAN TECHNICIANS AND RUSSIAN ASSISTANCE IN MOZAMBIQUE, ZAMBIA, AND TANZANIA MUST BE VIEWED BY UNBIASED POLITICAL ANALYSTS AS LEGITIMATE, DESIRABLE, AND HUMANITARIAN. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONES OF TERROR IN THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA AND NAMIBIA AND THE CREATION OF NATIVE HOMELANDS IN ZULU LAND ARE CLEARLY AGGRESSIVE ACTS OF THE WHITE MINORITY GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA. POLICE BRUTALITY AGAINST BLACK SOUTH AFRICANS IS A COMMON PLACE EVENT. A SURVEY OF ACTIVITIES RELATED TO SELF-DETERMINATION OR LIBERATION MOVEMENTS IN AFRICA IN THE 1960'S AND 1970'S SHOWS THAT GROUPS EMPLOYING TERROR/VIOLENCE ARE ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL IN ACHIEVING THEIR OBJECTIVES. THE COUNTRIES OF ALGERIA, GUINEA BISSAU, MOZAMBIQUE, AND ANGOLA ARE CASES IN POINT. SITUATIONAL EVENTS IN AFRICA RAISE MAJOR ISSUES CONCERNING POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY AND POLITICAL THEORY, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO AFRICAN DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. THE ABILITY OF AFRICAN LEADERS TO RESOLVE AFRICAN DOMESTIC PROBLEMS WITHOUT RESORT TO VIOLENCE AND TERROR IS QUESTIONED. VIOLENCE IN AFRICA IS STILL AT A LOW LEVEL BECAUSE AFRICAN COUNTRIES DEPEND ON OUTSIDE SUPPORT FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF TERRORISM EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING ITEMS LIKE RIFLES AND AMMUNITION. THE REAL EMPLOYMENT OF POWER AND TERROR IN AFRICA, HOWEVER, WILL COME WHEN AFRICAN STATES REACH INDEPENDENCE. WHEN AFRICA IS IN A POSITION TO PRODUCE IRON AND STEEL, WHEN IT HAS DEVELOPED A GREATER TECHNOLOGICAL CAPACITY, AND WHEN IT CAN PRODUCE ITS OWN ARSENAL, A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT POWER STRUCTURE WILL EMERGE AND A NEW WAVE OF VIOLENCE WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE CONTINENT. THE TRADITIONAL AFRICAN CONCEPT OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION, BOTH POLITICAL AND SOCIAL, THROUGH NEGOTIATION HAS DISAPPEARED WITH CULTURAL AND POLITICAL CHANGES. (DEP)