Colonialism, Independence, and Fragmentation: Dynamics of Empowerment and Disempowerment From a Historical Perspective

Abstract

This chapter looks at the constitution of the Mozambican state, considering the dynamics of empowerment and disempowerment that shaped this process. It starts from the analysis of the colonial period, showing how the different policies adopted by the Portuguese contributed to the systematic disempowerment of the natives, as well as how these policies were constantly resisted, culminating in the creation of the liberation movement. The chapter then explores the consolidation of the new state, highlighting the emancipatory project that Frelimo had envisioned for the country and its contradictions. It concludes by examining the war that followed, pointing to the paradoxical effects of violence in both disempowering but also offering empowering opportunities for different types of actors.