An analysis of Mozambique’s political and economic networks

Abstract

This paper analyses the social networks existing among politicians and economists in contemporary Mozambique, using the SNA-Social Networks Analysis method to identify the links between these individuals, to discern their relationships and to measure both the density and the centrality of the political-business network. Mozambique’s political and business elite is thus identified. A network sociogram is presented identifying the individual position in the network and the linkages among these individuals and several positional metrics of the individuals in the network are estimated, allowing identifying each individual and its influence in the network. As this network is resource accumulation driven, this exercise permits to identify the main political and economic individual active in Mozambique economy. President Guebuza define the major network centre and other individuals, Joaquim Chissano, the former president, and Graça Machel, the widow of another former president. Policy implications are derived and the links between them displayed, allowing for an accurate view of Mozambique’s political and business world.