Serão explicáveis os conflitos violentos em África? Notas de leitura

 

Isabel Medeiros^*

*Investigadora do Centro de Estudos Geográficos. E-mail: isamede@gmail.com

 

RESUMO – A maior parte dos países africanos, na sequência das independências políticas, e sobretudo no período pós Guerra Fria, num contexto de crescente globalização, tem conhecido situações de turbulência política que por vezes culminaram em massacres e confrontos de grande violência. Para muitos autores as guerras civis que se desencadearam ou ressurgiram na década de 90 correspondem a um tipo “novo” de conflito, embora não seja consensual separar “novas” e “velhas” guerras. Na perspectiva do alcance da paz e da respectiva prevenção é essencial aprofundar o conhecimento das causas subjacentes a cada situação nas suas complexas e múltiplas interligações. Neste texto analisam-se diferentes posições doutrinais sobre o assunto, considerando-se em particular os casos do Sudão, da Costa do Marfim e do Uganda. Também são objecto de comentário as relações entre guerra, fome e insegurança alimentar e as de género, atendendo sobretudo à situação das mulheres combatentes.

Palavras-chave: África, conflitos violentos, globalização, insegurança alimentar, relações de género.

 

Can violent conflicts in Africa be explained? Notes from the literature.

ABSTRACT – After political independence – and especially in the context of accelerating globalisation that followed the end of the Cold War –, most African countries have been affected by political instability, sometimes culminating in violent civil wars and massacres. In the current scientific debates, the wars of the 1990’s and 2000’s have been singled out and characterised by some authors as “new wars”. However, there is considerable controversy surrounding this distinction between “old” and “new” wars. The causes of African conflicts are complex and multidimensional. From a conflict prevention and resolution perspective, it is essential that our understanding of African conflicts be improved through further analyses of the root causes of conflict, as well as of their complex and multiple interactions over time. This paper discusses some of the main doctrinal and theoretical perspectives on this topic, with particular reference to the cases of the Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire and Uganda. The linkages between war, hunger and food insecurity, and gender relations are also examined, namely as regards the situation of women combatants.

Key words: Africa, violent conflicts, globalization, food insecurity, gender and war.

 

Comment expliquer les conflits violents Qui agitent L’afrique ? Notes de lecture.

RESUME –À la suite des indépendances et principalement après la fin de la Guerre Froide, dans un contexte de mondialisation croissante, la plupart des pays africains ont connu des situations de turbulence politique ayant parfois provoqué des massacres et des confrontations de grande violence. Beaucoup d’auteurs affirment que les guerres civiles qui ont surgi ou ressurgi dans les années 90 correspondent à un “nouveau” type de conflit, bien qu’on ne s’accorde guère sur la différence entre “nouveaux” et “anciens” conflits. Afin de rétablir la paix et de prévenir les conflits, il est important de mieux connaitre les causes sous-jacentes aux diverses situations, ainsi que les complexes liaisons entre elles. On analyse ici divers points de vue sur ce sujet, en particulier les cas du Soudan, de la Côte d’Ivoire et de l’Ouganda. On commente aussi les rapports qui existent entre la guerre, la faim et l’insécurité alimentaire, ainsi que les problèmes liès au “genre”, en traitant surtout celui des femmes combattantes.

Mots-clés: Afrique, conflits violents, globalisation, insécurité alimentaire, relations entre les sexes.

 

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

Full text only available in PDF format.

 

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Recebido: 29/07/2009. Aceite: 10/11/2009