When the military became militarised: Accounts of Zimbabwean National Army deserters in exile in South Africa

In post-colonial Africa, the military has been central to sustaining freedom. However, the current political trends in Zimbabwe represent a different phenomenon, with the army perpetrating violence against its own citizens. For many years, the concept of ‘militarisation’ has been used to define social and political practices outside the military. Scholars have deployed the concept of militarisation as a category of analysis and practice. In doing so, scholarly writing portrays the military as an instrument of militarisation. So, who militarises the military? While scholars use the concept of militarisation to analyse other state institutions, the central argument of this paper is that the concept of militarisation has been deployed inappropriately and narrowly by scholars to refer to the appointment of military personnel in state institutions. I argue that in the Zimbabwean post-2000 political crisis, what has in fact been militarised is the military itself as an institution – through the command and control of soldiers against their moral will – and this phenomenon is exemplified by the growing involvement of the military in the perpetration of political violence against the civilian population in Zimbabwe. This paper draws on the experiences of 44 Zimbabwe army deserters.     

A transformed insurgency: The strategy of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) in the light of communist insurgency theories and a modified Beaufrean exterior/interior framework

This paper examines the insurgency in Nepal (1996–2008) from a military theoretical point of view. It looks at the insurgency from André Beaufre's exterior/interior framework, which is modified to match postmodern conflicts. Simultaneously the importance of the political is underlined. The author critically examines the relevance of the Maoist label the movement and insurgency have received. He claims that the insurgency became a hybrid consisting of Chinese, Latin American, and Leninist thoughts wrapped in pragmatic/revisionists and nationalist ideas. The author also suggests that the ability of insurgents – or counter-insurgents – to combine the effects of the exterior and interior is more likely to constitute the key centre of gravity of a conflict than any single political, economic, or military factor.     

Democracy index for Africa, 2010

ABSTRACT

Natural resource-based conflicts continue to occur in different parts of Nigeria with negative implications. This study investigated the phenomena of natural resource conflicts vis-à-vis their propensities to impact political economy and national security negatively. Data for the study were sourced from theoretical and empirical evidence. Empirical data were sourced from existing studies selected on the basis on their relevance to the study and analysed based on their content. The limitation to this approach is the obsolete and subjective nature of some the literature. This limitation was, however, addressed among others through the author’s knowledge of the issues under study. The study found that Nigeria is enmeshed in conflict over ownership, distribution, access to or competition over natural resources such as petroleum resources and agricultural land and these conflicts have undermined democracy, human rights, the economy and the nation’s security. The paper identified poor resource governance, environmental factors and poor political leadership as the causes and drivers of these conflicts. It recommends natural resource governance among others, as a way out of the problem.     

POLITICAL SURVIVAL AND NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION

Nuclear Logics: Contrasting Paths in East Asia and the Middle East, by Etel Solingen. Princeton University Press, 2007. 404 pages, $26.95.     

海上维权斗争舆论战对策思考

舆论战作为信息时代一种独立而重要的作战样式,是一种渗透力、攻击力、威慑力很强的特殊武器,是海上维权斗争行动的重要组成部分.文章对开展海上雏权斗争舆论战的紧迫性进行了分析,归纳总结了海上维权斗争舆论战的特点,探索了开展海上维权斗争舆论战的对策.     

“现代教育技术”课程的思政实践理念与路径探讨

“课程思政”是高等学校实现立德树人目标的重要举措,也是“三全育人”的重要环节,目前国内高校普遍开展课程思政建设的探索和实践,“现代教育技术”作为师范类专业一门重要的公共基础必修课程,不仅连接了教育理论与实践,也承担着师德养成和职业规范形成的重要任务,因此本文以《中小学教师职业道德规范》为核心,从教学内容、教学形式、教学活动、教学评价四个方面进行课程思政建设的路径探讨,以期通过课程学习,对师范类学生实现“润物细无声”的精神引领,同时也为其他师范类平台课程的思政建设提供有价值的参考。     

现代管理科学在消防部队政治工作中的应用

运用现代管理科学理论考量公安消防部队政治工作管理,就会发现:公安消防部队政治工作管理中还存在一些不容忽视的问题,导致问题产生的原因比较复杂。要提高公安消防部队政治工作管理水平,我们必须针对问题及其原因,树立现代管理的科学理念,敢于突破陈旧落后的管理方法和手段,努力健全管理体制和运行机制,不断完善管理法规建设。     

谈公安科研成果管理工作的问题及对策

当前公安科技工作中科研成果管理面临一些实际问题,应引起各级科研管理工作者的重视。应该坚持科研成果管理的导向作用,加强科研成果的统计管理和加强科研成果转化管理以及组织管理革新等,以便为今后公安科研成果管理的发展提供参考。     

论网络舆情与高校思想政治教育的关联

随着互联网的普及,网络舆情对高校思想政治教育产生了广泛影响,二者之间存在密切关联。网络舆情蕴含思想政治教育功能,思想政治教育对网络舆情具有疏导作用。根据二者的密切关联,对大学生开展有针对性的教育已成为思想政治教育工作者面临的新课题。