Post-colonial Political, Economic and Ethnic Discourse: A case of Mozambique and Rwanda

Abstract

Africa is a vastly varied continent. African countries have different histories and geographical settings, different stages of economic development, different sets of public policies and different patterns of internal and international interactions. Origins of conflicts are manifold and complex, rooted in international and national arenas, and encompassing economic, political, cultural, linguistic and social parameters. Among the international factors, particularly noteworthy are the consequences derived from the end of the Cold War and its aftermath, as well as the globalization and liberalization of the world economy—which have generated a sense of political and economic insecurity in Africa. Thus, while the chapter focuses on conflicts and their causes and possible solutions in the broader African context, in practice attention to African conflicts will have to be paid at the individual country level and in the context of specific country circumstances. This chapter assumes that the great political and economic inequalities that exist in both countries—Mozambique and Rwanda—contributed to ethnic and linguistic prejudice. This, however, calls for thorough analysis of political and economic policies behind governmental measures to redress inequality and poverty. On the whole, the chapter adopts a qualitative methodology and draws heavily from existing literature, given that fieldwork was not possible because of the COVID-19 pandemic environment. The results of the research will contribute to the understanding of the resurgence of African conflicts, which seem to defy current African proposed solutions, regionally, continentally and globally.