Segurança do estado vs segurança humana em Cabo Verde: uma análise da evolução do processo político-social de 1975-1990

Abstract

If in the 15th Century, the status of colonial powers meant respect, in the international realm, the same didnt hold true in the 20th century, particularly after World War II, since possessing colonies started to be condemned, across the board. It was considered as unacceptable by the international community. In addition, the post-World War II period marks a new era of affirmation of political and emancipatory movements in favor of decolonization that took advantage of the changes in international political culture, including the emergence of legal and normative instruments, such as the Charter of the United Nations (which defends the principle of self-determination of peoples) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

In light of the above statement, the main objective of this article is to analyze the evolution of the political and social process in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, during the post-colonial period (1975-1990) and try to understand whether the political practice based on the principle of “party-state security” (which was pervasive in that period) did not undermine, in certain instances,  the human security paradigm and political practice of national survival, which constituted the basic principles of national independence.

Hypothetically, we assume that the legitimizing discourse of national independence was based on a teleological vision and the narrative of a future of peace, development, progress, security and national survival. However, the achievement of independence produced authoritarian political practices, which diverges from the discursive rhetoric in favor of human security - that was an oxymoron. From the outset, it is assumed that these contradictions have occurred in Cape Verde, although to a lesser extent than in Guinea-Bissau. Supposedly, some advocated, the inherited political and socio-anthropological legacies (different between countries) accounted for these differences. We intend to clarify these assumptions through a comparative, historical-political analysis (evolution of political processes), testimonies of political actors, research and document analysis, and induce our problematic from the contextual reality of the period.

Keywords: Human Security, African Colonization, Decolonization, Political Regime, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde.