Why military rule should be discouraged in african politics. A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by. Understanding ecowas efforts in promoting a governance. Reasons for military intervention in politics world news center. Military intervention according to fawole 1994 is defined as the conscious act of displacing and supplanting an existing political order, a government, by soldiers with the objective either of governing or influencing the political affairs of the country in particular direction determined largely by the interventionists themselves. Military intervention in the nigerian politics and its. Africa is a continent of many regions with diverse populations speaking hundreds of different languages and practicing an array of cultures and religions. It was the military that had dominated the politics of precolonial africa and influenced the continents history at different times. Military rule, political regime in which the military as an organization holds a preponderance of power. At domestic level, african governments are run in ways that have been regarded as far from the modern western state systems,osei tutu, 2004 upon which they are.
October 29 alex thomas, an introduction to african politics, chapter 7, coercion. The fourth edition of an introduction to african politics is an ideal textbook for those new to the study of this fascinating continent. Military coups and military regimes in africa the journal. As an instrument of legitimate coercion, the military plays a key role in its response to civilian initiative. Aug 11, 2016 by the end of 1966, military intervention in politics in africa had become endemic with some countries suffering from coups and counter coups. Military intervention in nigerian politics searchlight on the nigerian army from january 15, 1966 to may 29, 1999 and civilian and military politicians in nigeria by ajisola ewuola, ajis ajet. Following the 1966 military coup in nigeria, ethiopia also experienced interventions of military in its history in the 1974 at large. The intervention of military in the political scene of nigeria was not totally a surprise to most political observers. Academic journal article canadian social science military intervention in the nigerian politics and its impact on the. We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. According to this model the military intervenes in politics for three reasons which are personal power enhancement, poor socio economic and also the personal interest of the military s top office holders. Political change came about far more frequently through military intervention in politics than through open, competitive. The proxy wars in africa during the 1970s are unique forms of military intervention.
Are economic motives relevant to military intervention in. Africa s legacy of military involvement in politics will ensure that the military continues to play a role in the ongoing processes of political transition for some time to come. Onder 2010 identified five theories of military intervention in politics which are socio. The democratic republic of congo as a case study introduction this paper refers to patterns of influence, control, and subordination between the armed forces and the wider social environment. For that, role of military in politics in developing countries is counted vastly. Through the military regimes especially the jerry rawlings administration, which gave the ghanaian state its status as one of the most stabilized countries in west africa. What contribution did the west the features of the 1956 loi cadre reforms in french west africa. As part of the new approaches to african history series this book is intended to introduce students to current findings and debates surrounding the topic.
This article discusses whether it is nevertheless possible to understand african states as examples of the same. For this reason therefore, their clarifications become imperative. Third world perspective the developing region or the third world countries are fill of variations in cultural tradition. Political change came about far more frequently through military intervention in politics than through open, competitive elections. These differences have also been the source of much conflict since a millennia. Until very recently, relief agencies were operating within welldefined limits imposed by the political order established in the wake of world war ii. Finer 2008 argues that military intervention in politics can be explained through the personalist model. How is modern africa still influenced by its colonial past.
The operationalization of military intervention in politics four our model is a coup detat. Overview of politics in the postcolonial era african politics in the postcolonial era has been marred by authoritarianism, corruption, military intervention, and leadership failures amidst a broader socioeconomic crisis characterized by poverty. So when the military first intervened in january 1966, it was celebrated by the people onimode, 1981. The term military rule as used here is synonymous with military regime and refers to a subtype of authoritarian regime. Oct 19, 2016 in 1998, there was a military intervention from three sadc countries angola, namibia and zimbabwe under the auspices of the sadc allied forces. The context of the call for military intervention in africa the last three years have seen humanitarian organizations calling for military intervention in bosnia, somalia, rwanda and elsewhere. The intervention of military in the political scene of nigeria was not totally a surprise to most political. Pdf what accounts for military interventions in politics.
Molomo lesotho has in the past few years been faced with political uncertainty manifesting political turmoil and tension. The context of the call for military intervention in africa. In 1998, there was a military intervention from three sadc countries angola, namibia and zimbabwe under the auspices of the sadc allied forces. Military intervention in politics is a very common problem faced by developed and developing countries. The paper traces the evolution of the influence of the military governance in nigeria on the development of managerial elite. The analysis of angola illustrates the allure of raw materials, but also highlights the strategic advantages and cubas humanitarian commitment. National rivalries and ethnic sentiments reflected in the national politics led to a military intervention in january 1966. Military intervention in afr ican politics, argued le vine, epitomized.
Top 4 contributions of the west african students union to nationalism in west africa the reference point question for this post is this. Armies have been analysed in terms of their social and ethnic composition, training, ideology, and socialising influences. At domestic level, african governments are run in ways that have been regarded as far from the modern western state systems,osei tutu, 2004 upon which they are modelled. Without soviet support, cuba could exacerbate existing regional. Jul 20, 2014 but these kind of intervention become withdrawal dramatically. Cotedivoire pages 114120 to what extent did clientelism legitimate personal rule in postcolonial africa. Politics from the viewpoint of the typical african politician is seen as a profession where one could enrich himself at the expense and disadvantage of the poor people and so when that happens, and the military is compelled to interfere in the body politics of a state, the people tend to give support to them. Black africas armies tended to minimise their potential role in the political sphere but the rash of military interventions in politics. The most vulnerable places of military rule have been latin america, the middle east and the newly independent countries of africa and. Sep 18, 2018 africas legacy of military involvement in politics will ensure that the military continues to play a role in the ongoing processes of political transition for some time to come. Modern history is littered with examples of western military interventions in africa, and although western governments cited humanitarian obligation as the driving force, the military actions often masked economic ambition.
Understanding african politics chris allen generalisation about african politics and political systems is made difficult by the extent to which african states both differ from one another and have changed since independence. By the end of 1966, military intervention in politics in africa had become endemic with some countries suffering from coups and counter coups. He further explained the causes of military interventions in politics is that military always come for the short period but history tells us military never returned back the government to the civilian in proper way. External military intervention in lesothos recent political crisis mpho g. It is pointed out that military government is associated with their own class benefits and popularity. The military as part of the polity intervenes in several ways. In 1983, the military again truncated the nigerian civilian rule and ruled again till 1999. An introduction to african politics 4th edition alex. Are economic motives relevant to military intervention in africa. Theories of military in african politics springerlink. Nov 15, 20 how relevant are economic motives when states decide to intervene militarily in africa. Between 1960 and 1980 threequarters of latin american states experienced coups, as did half of the third world asian states and over half of the african states clapham, 1985, p. Political intervention and its causes are also in varieties.
It makes sense of the diverse political systems that are a feature of africa by using familiar concepts, chapter by chapter, to examine the continent as a whole. Like a wild bushfire, the trapping of political power by military officers swept africa. Zimbabwes militaryassisted transition and prospects for. Whether your country is democratic or totalitarian, you can still get the military forces involved in politics. Department of political studies, university of cape town, south africa. Page 116 note 2 for several examples of this, see decalo, journal of developing areas, 1973. Fako johnson likoti submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of phd. The us reaction to intervention in rhodesia, of corse, will tend to circumbscribe its policy toward south africa. Military intervention in the nigerian politics and its impact on the development of managerial elite. The last three years have seen humanitarian organizations calling for military intervention in bosnia, somalia, rwanda and elsewhere.
Military intervention an overview sciencedirect topics. Military coups were occurred mainly for political crisis. Many reasons have been adduced to explain the frequency of military intervention in the politics of african states with nigeria as a case study. So our dependent variable is a number of reported coups between 1970 and 1980, for an 11year period. As such it is not a book to read if one is looking for a radical new analysis of foreign intervention in africa based on extensive archival research. Available formats pdf please select a format to send.
All of these totaled 29 years of military rule in nigeria. It should also be mentioned that nearly all the former. The military has played an adverse role in the development of ghana sociopolitically, economically and other aspects like institutional development. Five reasons for military intervention in nigerian politics. The heightened significance of ideology was reflected in the main foreign policy objectives. This justified the the process of militaristic mutiny in africa inevitability of military intervention in african politics. However, it must be emphasized that military interventions into politics in africa exacerbated political instability in the region and adversely affected longterm. Africa since the collapse of colonial rule is visibly epitomized by the growing number of interventions by the military. As a developing country, bangladesh has also experienced the military coups and ruled by military persons.
Academic journal article canadian social science military intervention in the nigerian politics and its impact on the development of managerial elite. The french military in africa council on foreign relations. The nature and results of military coups by direct or indirect military intervention are different. The military history of africa is one of the oldest military histories in the world. The role of the military in politics has attracted the attention of political scientists all over the world. Top 5 reasons for military intervention in nigerian politics. The african political instability and other related problems is basically a consequence of its leadership problem. Many reasons have been adduced to explain the frequency of military intervention in the politics of african. French and us approaches compared stephen burgess, phd r ecent conflicts in africa have demonstrated the need for foreign military intervention to prevent violent extremist organizations veos from expanding their areas of operations and attacking vulnerable states and populations. African military intervention in african conflicts. Direct military intervention in the politics of third world countries has been a depressingly regular occurrence since the highwater mark of postwar independence. Military intervention in africa volume 8 issue 4 claude welch. What accounts for military interventions in politics.
Political instability was accentuated by military intervention into the politics and governance of the countries. Both relief agencies and human rights organizations have vocally implored the united nations, or individual western countries, to dispatch troops to strifetorn nations facing. The south african government is more prone than the smith regime to accept political solutions as evidenced by their policy of entente. According to ezenwa 1987 one of the political events of the first republic was the military intervention, takeover into political affairs and civil war in the country within the period of 1966 and 1979. The need to consolidate power has opened up for the struggle for power at all levels within society even outside elections.
Relying mainly on secondary data, this chapter revisits the dominant theoretical orientations and interrogates their continued relevance for the explanation of the military in african politics. Reasons for military intervention in nigerian politics. Some research on the coup detat in latin america and africa brings regional. The result is a textbook that identifies the essential features of african politics, allowing students to.
Us policies with respect to possible cuban military intervention in rhodesia and namibia background facts and policy assumptions cubans may intervene in other southern african regions following their success in angola. A case study of pakistan and bangladesh muhammad dawood ms scholar politics international relations military in pakistan and bangladesh has been deeply involved in politics all over the history. Political change comes about far more frequently through military intervention in politics than through open, competitive elections. Zimbabwes military assisted transition and prospects for recovery the militarys role in the political transition casts a shadow on the road to credible elections, which remain a priority if his government is to earn national and international legitimacy. The impact of military coup detat on political development in nigeria olorungbemi simeon toyin ph. Causes of military intervention in politics in nigeria. In one african state another civilian government succumbed to the military, and in other parts of the. Political instability in africa where the problem lies and. Reasons for military intervention in politics world news. United states opted for an indirect military intervention, establishing the combined joint task forcehorn of africa cjtf hoa in djibouti in 2002 and spending more than a billion dollars training, equipping, deploying and sustaining african intervention forces mainly for peace enforcement in somalia in eastern africa and. Sadc interventions in the democratic republic of the congo. Conceptual clarification of terms some of the important terms that would engage our minds in this discourse include.
Military involvement in politics either through military rule, sometimes referred to as military government or military regime, is a political phenomenon that has been characteristic of many societies especially the third world countries. European scientific journal august 2014 special edition issn. This intervention was authorised by the sadc organ on politics, defence and security cooperation sadc troika, which was then chaired by zimbabwe. Upon obtaining independence from colonial rule in the late. An analysis of military intervention in rwanda, the drc and lesotho. The military and politics in africa, in welch, claude e. But events in chad suggest unilateral action remains on the table. Recent us special forces raids in libya and somalia are the latest examples in a long history of intervention in africa.
The nearest to the former precolonial system was the military in which case the military ruler had absolute power and authority derived from the use of brute force osoba, 1996. Military intervention means the political authority belongs to military over civilian authority. Military intervention in africas conflicts as a route to peace. Military intervention in africa african issues cambridge core. Pdf military interventions in politics are very common both in developing democratic or totalitarian regimes. The six year mistakes of the first republic politicians invited the military to interfere in governance after more than a total of six decades of colonial misrule rodney, 1974. What are the theories of military intervention in politics. The reasons for military intervention in politics in west. Since then, military rule has been a recurring phenomenon in nigeria. Msc helps appoint members of the ecowas council of the wise, which also plays an important role in ensuring the implementation of governance norms in west africa. Reasons for military intervention in nigerian politics the nigerian military has registered their unequivocal and unquestionable presence in the political atmosphere of the nigerian state. It gets to the heart of the politics of this part of the world.
South africa, although it will be affected by eventsin rhodesia. An introduction to african politicsis the ideal textbook for those new to the study of this vast and fascinating continent. Third world military support became a necessary condition of. D student of political science at the department of political science university of ibadan ibadan, nigeria abstract the military is not by inclination trained to rule, but to defend. Since the time of independence in 1960, the military have held on to power for a record of 29 years. Alex thomas, an introduction to african politics, chapter 6, case study. The impact of military coup detat on political development.
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