'A family of the state': bureaucratic impediments to democratic reform in Mozambique
Date
1994-06-01T13:13:53Z
Authors
Alpers, Edward A
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Abstract
Mozambique is preparing for its first multi-party election since gaining
independence in 1975. A national electoral census will take place from 1 June to I5 August 1994,
with the election scheduled for 27-28 October 1994. Prospects for a "free and fair" election are encouraging. While it
is true that democracy cannot take root without an open electoral process, it cannot nourish on that
alone. Elections represent an
important point of popular engagement with government. Indeed, that the
election in South Africa was deemed to be "free and fair" is no small achievement.
What matters is what follows the
election; in the case of South Africa, the quality of the democracy that takes shape as a
consequence of the election. And here, as in the case of Angola, there are many potential obstacles
in the path towards the development of a government which genuinely reflects the popular will.
One of these is the state bureacracy. Differing perspectives on this are discussed. The Mozambique case is particularly bad.
Description
University of the Witwatersrand
History Workshop Conference
Democracy: Popular Precedents,
Popular Practice and Popular Culture
13-15 July 1994.
Keywords
Democracy Mozambique, Bureaucracy, Decolonization, Corruption, Mozambique