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Political Mobilisation for Development in Guinea-Bissau

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2008

Lars Rudebeck
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Extract

In a recent theoretical essay I tried to demonstrate, among other things, the crucial importance of politics in any effort to overcome the underdevelopment of our own historical period; and I hope I have also shown how different kinds of political systems may be assumed to interact with various kinds of development strategies.1 The most hopeful combination is where a dynamic political interaction is established between the developmental needs and aspirations of the masses, and a consciously applied strategy of challenge to the social, political, and economic status quo of underdevelopment. It is surely an important task of political science to attempt to define the conditions under which such a mobilising interaction may be established and sustained. They are probably minimal conditions of development for any Third-World nation in the predominantly capitalist international system.

Type
Articles
Information
The Journal of Modern African Studies , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , May 1972 , pp. 1 - 18
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1972

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References

Page 1 note 1 Rudebeck, Lars, ‘Political Development: towards a coherent and relevant theoretical formulation of the concept’, in Scandinavian Political Studies (Oslo), V, 1970, pp. 21–63;Google Scholar and ‘Developmental Pressure and Political Limits: a Tunisian example’, in The Journal of Modern African Studies (Cambridge), VIII, 2, 07 1970, pp. 173–98.Google Scholar

Page 3 note 1 For the most comprehensive and penetrating account, see Davidson, Basil, The Liberation of Guiné: aspects of an African revolution (London, 1969).Google Scholar Another useful study is by Chaliand, Gérard, Lutte arméle en Afrique (Paris, 1967).Google Scholar

Page 3 note 2 Translated from Palavras de ordem gerais do camarada Amilcar Cabral aos responsáveis do partido (Conakry, 1969), p. 23.

Page 4 note 1 Translated from Guinée et Cap-Vert. Libération des colonies portugaises (Alger, 1970), p. 24.Google Scholar

Page 4 note 2 Translated from Cabral, Amilcar, Sur la situation de notre lutte armée de libération nationale, janvier—septembre 1970 (Conakry, 1970, mimeo.), p. 7.Google Scholar

Page 8 note 1 It should be noted, though, that the Conselho Superior da Luta decided in August 1971 to create ‘the first National Assembly of the People of Guinea’. See Cabral, Amilcar, Rapport bref sur la situation de la lutte: janvier-aoūt 1971 (Conakry, 1971 mimeo.), p. 17.Google Scholar

Page 9 note 1 In a message from Amilcar Cabral to the people on the occasion of the 14th anniversary of the foundation of the P.A.I.G.C., the need is emphasised to ‘improve our political work and develop the participation of the people’ (Conakry, 1970, mimeo.), p. 14. Cf. also Cabral's ‘Brief Analysis of the Social tructure in Guinea’, first presented at a seminar in 1964, and later printed in English in a collection of his speeches and articles; Revolution in Guinea, an African People's Struggle (London, 1969), pp. 46–61.Google Scholar

Page 10 note 1 Documents I saw in Guinea-Bissau included a simple form for the registration of village marriages. This is used by women and men to notify the party of their free intention to marry, and contains the following words in Portuguese: ‘Marriage in the form and with the effects established by our Party, during its exercise of the sovereignty of the People of Guiné and Cabo Verde, of whom it is the legitimate representative.’ The forms also note that persons who do not know how to read and write may use their finger-prints as a signature. These documents are remarkable evidence of the ‘state-building’ going on in the liberated areas.

Page 11 note 1 The abstract principle is explained to the cadres by Cabral, in Palavras de ordem gerais, pp. 32–3.Google Scholar

Page 11 note 2 In Guinée et Cap-Vert, p. 139, it is stressed that the fighting men of the party are ‘pas de militaires mais des militants armés’.

Page 12 note 1 Cf. also Whitaker, Paul M., ‘The Revolutions of“ Portuguese Africa”’, in The Journal of Modern African Studies, VIII, 1, 04 1970, especially pp. 24–7.Google Scholar

Page 12 note 2 This extract is from a document presented to the U.N. Special Committee for the Territories Administered by Portugal, in June 1962. The present quotation has been translated from a version prepared for the International Conference for Solidarity with the Peoples of the Portuguese Colonies in Rome, 1970, by Cabral, ; Sur les lois portugaises de domination coloniale (Conakry, 1970, mimeo.), p. 28.Google Scholar

Page 13 note 1 The following account is based upon oral information, primarily from the man in charge of working out the new judicial system, Fidelis C. Almada, himself a jurist and acting as the party's Secretary of Justice. Complementary information was received from members of several courts, as well as from a number of people not specifically concerned with the judicial system.

Page 13 note 2 Lei da Justiça Militar de 19 de Setembro de 1966. Com as modificações introduzidas pelo Bureau Politico do Partido, na reunião de 20 a 23 de Dezembro de 1966 (Conakry, 1966, mimeo.).Google Scholar This is published in Portuguese, the official language of the P.A.I.G.C. and of the future independent state of Guinea-Bissau.

Page 15 note 1 According to Guineé et Cap-Vert, p. 81, the number of village schools was 153 in 1967, and is said to have increased by 1970 to 162.

Page 16 note 1 The same is true of the ambitious health services, which deserves study both from a socio-political and medical point of view. With few educated doctors and nurses, and very limited supplies of medicines, the programme reaches far out into the villages.

Page 16 note 2 A former officer of the Portuguese army by the name of Silvino Manuel da Luz.

Page 16 note 3 Translated from Regulamenlo de disciplina interna, Quembra, 21 de Maio de 1970 (Quembra, 1970, typescript).