pdf: 6.426kb - University of South Africa
pdf: 6.426kb - University of South Africa
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ABSTRACT<br />
In an attempt to identify and analyse<br />
similarities and differences between the<br />
Angolan and Colombian state failure<br />
experiences, three main components or<br />
variables <strong>of</strong> analysis emerge: violence,<br />
state failure and resource capture. This<br />
article emphasizes their reinforcing relationship<br />
brought together in an equilateral<br />
triangle used as a heuristic<br />
device. In the subsequent comparison,<br />
each component is emphazised separately,<br />
commencing with Angola and<br />
Colombia's history <strong>of</strong> repressive and<br />
exploitative colonial rule and the absence<br />
<strong>of</strong> incentives for nation building.<br />
Rather than nation building, the corrupt<br />
ruling e lite and their main rivals' main<br />
purpose was, and continues to be to<br />
capture, control and exploit the lucrative<br />
resources <strong>of</strong> diamonds and oil in Angola<br />
and cocaine in Colombia. Their dependence<br />
on the global free market forces<br />
<strong>of</strong> demand and supply, creating wealth<br />
for their war effort and weapons procurement,<br />
is also described. By using<br />
empirical data, the author illustrates the<br />
similarities <strong>of</strong> Angola's and Colombia's<br />
post-independence state decline. The<br />
role <strong>of</strong> state and non-state actors reflect<br />
interesting similarities vis-aÁ-vis reinforcing<br />
the link <strong>of</strong> the capture <strong>of</strong> violence<br />
and resources which drive the actors in<br />
both countries. The failure <strong>of</strong> their<br />
primary commodity exports, again reinforces<br />
the actors' commitments to<br />
resource capture. Finally, this author<br />
has examined `constructive' international<br />
engagement and preventive diplomacy,<br />
as well as possible measures<br />
needed for a definite reverse <strong>of</strong> the<br />
current disastrous situations in both<br />
countries.<br />
RESUMEN<br />
En un intento por analizar e identificar<br />
las similitudes y diferencias entre las<br />
experiencias fallidas del gobierno angolenÄ<br />
o y colombiano, aparecen principalmente<br />
tres componentes o variables de<br />
ana lisis: la violencia, el fracaso del<br />
estado y la captura de recursos. Este<br />
artõÂculo enfatiza la fortalecedora relacio n<br />
entablada en un tria ngulo equila tero<br />
usado como un dispositivo heurõÂ stico.<br />
En la siguiente comparacio n, se centra<br />
en cada componente por separado,<br />
comenzando por la historia del gobierno<br />
de represio n y explotacio n colonial de<br />
Angola y Colombia y la ausencia de<br />
incentivos para la construccio n de la<br />
nacio n. En logar de la construccio nde<br />
una nacio n, la intencio n primordial de la<br />
clase dirigente corrupta y sus principales<br />
adversarios era y es la captura, control y<br />
explotacio n provechosa de los recursos<br />
de diamantes y petroleo en Angola y de<br />
cocaõÂ na en Colombia. Asimismo se<br />
describe su dependencia de las fuerzas<br />
de <strong>of</strong>erta y procura del mercado libre<br />
mundial, con el fin de enriquecerse para<br />
financiar la guerra y la obtencio n de<br />
armas. Por medio de datos empõÂ ricos, el<br />
autor ilustra las similitudes en el decline<br />
del gobierno de ambos paõÂses tras su<br />
independencia. El papel de los actores<br />
de dentro y fuera del estado refleja<br />
interesantes semejanzas frente al võÂ nculo<br />
fortalecedor entre la captura de la<br />
violencia y recursos que impulsa a los<br />
actores de ambos paõÂses. El fracaso de<br />
las exportaciones de sus productos<br />
primarios, refuerza el grado de compromiso<br />
de estos actores con respecto a la<br />
captura de recursos. Finalmente, el autor<br />
ha examinado el `constructivo' compromiso<br />
internacional y la diplomacia preventiva,<br />
asõÂ como las posibles medidas<br />
que se precisan para una definitiva<br />
marcha atra s a la desastrosa situacio n<br />
actual que atraviesan estos paõÂ ses.<br />
RESUMO<br />
Numa tentativa de analisar e identificar<br />
semelhancË as e diferencË as entre as experieÃ<br />
ncias de fracasso do estado colombiano<br />
e angolano, treàs fatores principais,<br />
ou varia veis, veà maÁ tona: a violeà ncia, o<br />
fracasso do estado e a tomada de<br />
recursos. Este artigo enfatiza a relacË aÄ o<br />
reforcË ada desses fatores, encapsulada<br />
em um triaà ngulo equÈ ila tero usado como<br />
um dispositivo heurõÂ stico. Na comparacË<br />
aÄ o que segue, cada parte e analizada<br />
separadamente, a comecË ar com a histoÂ<br />
ria repressiva e exploradora do regime<br />
colonial tanto em Angola como na<br />
Coloà mbia, e a falta de incentivos para<br />
a construcËaÄ o de uma nacËaÄ o. Em vez de<br />
construir uma nacË aÄ o, a intencË aÄ o principal<br />
da classe dirigente corrupta e seus<br />
principais adversa rios era e continua a<br />
ser a tomada, o controà le e a exploracËaÄ o<br />
dos lucrativos recursos de diamantes e<br />
petro leo em Angola, e da cocaõ na na<br />
Colombia. A sua dependeà ncia das forcË<br />
as globais do mercado livre ± <strong>of</strong>erta e<br />
procura ±, a criacË aÄ o de riqueza para a<br />
guerra e a compra de armamentos<br />
tambe m saÄ o mencionadas. O autor<br />
ilustra as semelhancË as entre o declõÂ nio<br />
do estado angolano e colombiano apo s<br />
a independeà ncia. O papel de atores<br />
dentro e fora do estado espelha semelhancË<br />
as interessantes quanto ao võÂ nculo<br />
entre a violeà ncia e a tomada de recursos<br />
que propelam os atores em ambos os<br />
paõÂ ses. O fracasso da exportacËaÄ o de<br />
seus produtos principais reforcË a o grau<br />
de compromisso desses atores quanto aÁ<br />
tomada de recursos. Finalmente o autor<br />
examina o envolvimento internacional<br />
`construtivo' e a diplomacia preventiva,<br />
assim como possõÂveis medidas necessaÂ<br />
rias para uma reviravolta definitiva das<br />
desastrosas situacËoÄ es atuais em ambos<br />
os paõÂ ses.<br />
INTRODUCTION<br />
The research topic encompasses three main components<br />
<strong>of</strong> analysis which, put together, could be<br />
compared to the three sides <strong>of</strong> an equilateral triangle:<br />
(1) state failure, (2) violence, and (3) resource<br />
capture. Figure 1 illustrates this model, ascribing each<br />
component equal importance. Together they form a<br />
solid triangular unit ± once one component is removed<br />
or separated from the other, the full picture <strong>of</strong> state<br />
failure is no longer reflected. The latter is conceived as<br />
a degenerating process <strong>of</strong> change over time in which<br />
resource capture reinforces state failure and causes<br />
escalation <strong>of</strong> conflict and violence.<br />
Using the model illustrated in Fig. 1 as a directive,<br />
the principal aim <strong>of</strong> this paper is to investigate and<br />
compare the Angolan and Colombian state failure<br />
cases. As a starting point, it is necessary to state the<br />
model's relevance to the aim. Both countries, for<br />
example, had similar historical experiences <strong>of</strong> repressive,<br />
exploitative and violent colonial rule. The<br />
colonial rulers' sole purpose was to capture Angola's<br />
and Colombia's respective mineral wealth. Creating<br />
ISSN 0256±6060±Unisa Lat. Am. Rep. 16(2) 2000 5