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- Angolan civil society organisations: political reformists vs political confrontationistsPublication . Vidal, NunoThere are currently in Angola two main opposing strategies/perspectives assumed by CSOs towards the government: the reformist a constructive engagement approach believing that the government can be progressively reformed from within, accepting a flexible agenda towards donors, and a technical, pragmatic and not too politically assertive agenda on democratisation and poverty alleviation; the confrontationist. rejecting constructive engagement as a form of cooption by the government and a way of perpetuating neo-patrimonialism, standing for independent agendas towards donors, based on the strict defence of political and economic human rights and transparency in public resources management. Both claim to be better serving the interests of the communities and more effective on democratisation and poverty alleviation, mutually accusing of indirect/unintentional contribution to the maintenance of authoritarianism and neo-patrimonialism. This paper intends to assess: 1) the contextual factors conditioning the adoption and implementation of CSOs strategies (reformist and confrontationist); 2) the impact of each strategy on communities, in favour of democratisation and poverty alleviation, or unintentionally supportive of authoritarianism and neo-patrimonialism. In conclusion, the paper argues that although hardly assumed, then 2008 electoral process and electoral results represented a cruel reality that stroke both sides of the civil society divide: their long and passionate quarrels and disputes on reformism and confrontationism made all sense to them and to their international partners but hardly any to the majority of the Angolan society. ‘Their’ civil society is mainly urban, donor influenced, strongly extraverted, the product of a segment of an elite, coming out of the disaffection socio-political ranks of the MPLA (Vidal 2007), that quickly assimilated and interiorized development thinking perspectives, strategies and disputes but lacks a symbiosis with the majority of people consciousness and daily logics, therefore with a very limited capacity for significant change on the regime or society as a whole.
- Angolan civil society activism since the 1990s : reformists, confrontationists and young revolutionaries of the ‘Arab spring generation’Publication . Vidal, NunoAiming for regime transformation, post-transition Angolan civil society activism moved from reformism and confrontationism to ultra-confrontationism. Reformism and confrontationism evolved until the 2008 elections, influenced by development thinking (neoliberalism/institutionalism vs neo-Marxism/world-system thinking), in two opposing strategies: ‘constructive engagement’ vs political defiance. The dispute ended with ultra-confrontationism gaining impetus with the Arab spring, with a younger generation resorting to new methods (information and communications technology and demonstrations). Despite the lack of funding or international links, the newer methods caused more concern to the regime. Nevertheless, they suffer from the same shortfalls as their predecessors: they are confined to an urban/suburban social segment, and unable to attract the majority of the population
- Angola: the weight of historyPublication . Vidal, Nuno; Chabal, PatrickThis volume stems from the conviction that an analysis of contemporary Angola is best achieved by a multi-authored and multidisciplinary enterprise. Indeed, so intricate is the trajectory of that former Portuguese colony that there is yet to appear a comprehensive account of its history. Nor is there today a wholly convincing study of its post-colonial evolution. Competing explanations offer diverging views about the nature of the regime and the consequences of the civil war. Of course, there is no denying that Angola’s case is complex, touching as it does on an unusually wide range of issues – from its ethnic and racial complexion to its oil-based economy. Nevertheless, it is now time to attempt a more systematic examination of this important country – if for no other reason than because it is likely to become an increasingly important player in the region.
- Economia política e desenvolvimento em AngolaPublication . Vidal, Nuno; Andrade, Justino Pinto deEste livro centra-se na análise da natureza e dinâmica da economia política Angolana e do seu impacto ao nível do desenvolvimento. São abordadas questões como a relação entre crescimento e desenvolvimento, equilíbrio económico entre regiões e sectores de actividade, e sobretudo questões de política económica, que podem facilitar ou obstar ao desenvolvimento harmonioso da economia e da sociedade, com reflexos na estabilidade sócio-política de longo prazo. O tão propalado crescimento económico de dois dígitos em vários anos ao longo da última década não se traduziu em efectivo desenvolvimento equilibrado, sectorial, regional, e sobretudo humano, sendo que a pobreza continua a constituir um sério problema. Existem várias falhas a colmatar em termos de políticas económicas, mas sobretudo em termos de economia política e da lógica dominante que lhe tem estado subjacente, de raiz patrimonial moderna, impeditiva de que o crescimento seja equilibrado e se traduza em efectivo desenvolvimento.
- Democratic and development processes in Angola and Southern Africa, research project report, 2004-2009Publication . Vidal, Nuno; Andrade, Justino Pinto deThis report is situated within a process of research, reflection and publication on democratisation and development in Angola and in Southern Africa. It was begun in September 2004 by the Catholic University of Angola and the University of Coimbra, and has resulted in three international conferences (Luanda, August 2004; Luanda, September 2008; Brussels, November 2009) and publication of three books: “The Process of Transition to Multi-party Politics in Angola” - O Processo de Transição para o Multipartidarismo em Angola (Luanda 2006, 2007 & 2008); “Civil Society and Politics in Angola, regional and international context” - Sociedade Civil e Política em Angola, enquadramento regional e internacional (Luanda 2008 & 2009); “Southern Africa - civil society, politics and donor strategies” (Brussels 2009). In dealing with a long term project which is not only academic and scientific, but also deals with activism and civic advocacy, the two universities, together with the Dutch University of Wageningen which joined the process, decided to take the discussion and reflection to one of the principal international donors centres, to the European Parliament in Brussels, where they organised a new conference and a new book, Southern Africa: civilian society, politics, development and donor strategies (Brussels, European Parliament, November 17 2009), which widened the scope to include analysis of donor strategies. The methodology adopted in this process (conferences and books) aims to stimulate extended discussion, reflection and action on the issues being analysed, not only nor principally bringing academics together, but also members of so-called civil society organisations (CSOs), and activists, as well as politicians, Church members and other contributors, whose input is considered relevant to the discussion. To incorporate and support the work of the new international Brussels conference, the organisers considered it important to prepare a progress report for this long project, placing special emphasis on the issues discussed in the two last conferences in Luanda. In conference panel analysis from 2004 & 2008, we find several issues that represent serious constraints to civil society (CS) action and the processes of democratisation and development: constraints to media activity by those in power; deficiencies within the justice system, in the defence and respect for human rights; authoritarianism; weaknesses in relations to organisations of the international community; clientelistic management of the political system and its negative impact on development and equitable access to State resources. Perhaps surprisingly, we also found much similarity between the problems encountered at these levels in Angola and those of several southern African countries analysed in the second conference (2008), highlighting a need for more comparative studies on the political and economic relation in the region. This report is divided in three parts, corresponding to three international conferences and three books. It deals with the key points of each event and publication.
- Erradicação da pobreza e desenvolvimento equilibrado em Angola e na África AustralPublication . Vidal, Nuno; Andrade, Justino Pinto deEste livro apresenta uma súmula das principais ideias e resultados do projecto de pesquisa desenvolvido por Nuno Vidal e Justino Pinto de Andrade no seu projecto de pesquisa-acção no período de 2010 a 2014, reflectindo os vários debates e trabalhos desenvolvidos dentro e fora de Angola em torno da temática principal das diversas orientações teórico-metodológicas e análise das políticas públicas seguidas em Angola e na África Austral no que à erradicação da pobreza e ao desenvolvimento dizem respeito.
- Migrações e refugiados: direitoPublication . Vidal, Nuno; Guerreiro, Maria João; Silva, Helder Matta eReflexão sobre a situação das migrações forçadas e refugiados no mundo. Análise de problemáticas que atravessam a complexa e paradoxal realidade das migrações forçadas e refugiados procurando desconstruir representações estereotipadas.
- Landmines of democracy: civil society and the legacy of authoritarian rules in AngolaPublication . Vidal, NunoAngola has largely been under authoritarian rule from the colonial era to the present. The nationalist war against the Portuguese (1961-1975) promised freedom, but independence in 1975 marked the beginning of a civil war with major foreign involvement right from the start. With few interruptions, the war lasted for almost 27 years - to February 2002, when the rebel leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), Jonas Savimbi, was killed in action. From 1975 to 1977, there was a period of relative freedom in Angola. However, in 1977 an aborted coup resulted in a major purge with massive killings all over the country. An authoritarian and repressive one-party socialist regime was put in place by the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). A feared apparatus of State security was placed in charge of political repression. Non-state media were closed and the right to association was limited to mass organisations of the MPLA. The judicial system became 'militarised', juxtaposing civilian and military courts with the ability to impose heavy penalties, including the death penalty (mainly for political and security crimes). The judiciary was politically dependent and operated under the direct influence of the party and ultimately of the President. A culture of fear, intimidation and repression became entrenched. The regime in place and the priority given to defence and internal security did not allow any room for civil society to emerge and impeded the development of any kind of 'democratic institutions' or any sense of transparency and accountability . Violations of human rights by both sides of the conflict became regular as well as impunity for perpetrators of these crimes.