Publications

Claude Meillassoux em Moçambique: a propósito de uma carta a Marcelino dos Santos

Abstract:

Claude Meillassoux, the founder of French economic anthropology, and Marcelino dos Santos, an important leader of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), met in Paris in the 1950s, when they were both studying with the Africanist Georges Balandier. In 1977, the year of Meillassoux’s first visit to Mozambique, their relationship was renewed, this time under a critical and controversial tone. That year, Frelimo had transformed itself into a “Marxist-Leninist” vanguard party and was on the verge of creating a series of organizations in favor of the establishment of “people’s power” and socialism. Meillassoux would become a keen observer of this process. This article reconstructs the vicissitudes of his trip, promoted by the Franco-Mozambican cooperation and the Center for African Studies at Eduardo Mondlane University. Immediately after his visit, Meillassoux sent Marcelino dos Santos a highly critical letter concerning the course of the Mozambican revolution. The article also analyzes the content of this letter and its main anthropological and political implications.

Cite this Paper:

Macagno, L. (2024). Claude Meillassoux em Moçambique: a propósito de uma carta a Marcelino dos Santos. Estudos Ibero-Americanos, 50(1), e45089. https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-864X.2024.1.45089

African women’s trajectories and the Casa dos Estudantes do Império

Abstract:

This article compares the trajectories of different women who crossed the Casa dos Estudantes do Império (CEI), a formal institution created in Lisbon by students from the colonies with the support of the Portuguese dictatorial regime in 1944, that became a platform for anti–colonialism. Due to the role played by the CEI in the political and social paths of the leaders of African national liberation movements, historiography has privileged masculine accounts. In contrast, the roles and lives of women linked to the CEI remain unexplored or approached from a vision of “methodological nationalism”, with few exceptions. Addressing these trajectories from a transnational and “Afro–Iberian” lens and through the scrutiny of several sources allows us to reflect on a diversity of gender, race, class, and political ideology. The final aim is to illuminate some aspects of the Afro–Iberian mosaic from a gendered and postcolonial perspective.

Cite this Book Chapter:

Falconi, J. (2024). African women’s trajectories and the Casa dos Estudantes do Império In: Ethnicity and Gender in Portugal and Spain. volume 47, issue 7 (2024), pp. 1403-1419

Uma viagem sobre a investigação e a inovação no turismo

Abstract:

This chapter aims to succinctly outline the evolution and trends in the type of research that has been conducted, its connection to knowledge innovation issues, and, above all, whether this trend aligns with the major lines of action in the tourism sector at the international level. Fifty years after April 1974, tourism has established itself both globally and nationally as a resilient and impactful activity on multiple levels, as well as a strategic instrument for strengthening development between countries and peoples.

As a corollary of this dynamism, there has also been a growing recognition of the importance of its role in professional, polytechnic, and university education, as well as the role attributed to research in this field. Research serves as a means to contribute to a thorough understanding of tourism’s significance, informed decision-making, and, naturally, the preparation of a well-trained workforce capable of navigating a highly competitive global market.

Cite this Book Chapter:

Sarmento, E. (2024). Uma viagem sobre a investigação e a inovação no turismo. In António Abrantes, Turismo em 50 anos de democracia (Parte IX- Ensino, Formação e Investigação no Turismo. Cap. 49, pp.398-406). ISBN: 978-989-693-188-9. Lisboa: Pactor/LIDEL

The Indian Ocean and the Portuguese-Speaking World: Literary and Cultural Intersections

Abstract:

Working from the premise that the Indian Ocean shapes new transnational imaginative geographies, this volume analyses how visual and written narratives from Lusophone, or rather «Lusotopic», spaces – Portugal, Mozambique, East Timor and Goa – point to productive critical dialogues with existing theories in Indian Ocean studies. The conceptual and epistemological revision presented in the book allows for the emergence of different theoretical constellations that are not solely based on the opposition between coloniality and the postcolonial condition, nor grounded upon the concept of linguistic or national identity, pointing to a set of original critical developments within the area of Indian Ocean studies.

Cite this book:

Leite, A., M., Brugioni, E., Falconi, J., Banasiak, M. (2025). The Indian Ocean and the Portuguese-Speaking World. Literary and Cultural Intersections. Oxford, United Kingdom: Peter Lang Verlag. Retrieved Dec 13, 2024, from 10.3726/b17729

DEZ AR MAR / TEN SEA AIR

Brief Paper 1/2024: Reposicionamento do activismo político e social em Moçambique: Uma análise conjecturando a eclosão de conflitos sociopolíticos

Abstract:

This Brief Paper discusses the repositioning of political and social activism in Mozambique within a context heavily characterised by the active participation of citizens in the 2023 elections, a stark contrast to previous elections, which were largely marked by weak political and social activism. In this context, the Brief Paper argues that this repositioning is linked to the fact that the Mozambican population has acquired a new political and social awareness, marked by a quest for truth and authenticity in their leaders. This repositioning also reflects the population’s readiness to confront state power and entails two domains of analysis with harmful consequences for the Mozambican government: the domestic domain and the external domain. This occurs because the population increasingly shows a diminished fear of repression carried out by the police and military. Moreover, this repositioning has highlighted the existence of a latent and ongoing conflict between the current Mozambican government and the 1990–2000 generation. Methodologically, two tools supported this analysis: bibliographical techniques and documentary analysis. Theoretically, the Brief Paper is grounded in Maslow’s Basic Needs Theory, combined with the Frustration-Aggression Theory from conflict studies. Finally, the conjectures presented in this Brief Paper suggest that the current Frelimo government has lost legitimacy in the eyes of the people, particularly among the 1990–2000 generation. However, there are also conjectures based on the assumption that Frelimo retains legitimacy through two analytical perspectives: a traditional perspective and an institutional perspective. These two perspectives complement each other and justify Frelimo’s continued hold on power.

Cite this Brief Paper:

Chisseve, Delton (2024). “Reposicionamento do activismo político e social em Moçambique : uma análise conjecturando a eclosão de conflitos sociopolíticos”. CEsA/CGS – Brief Papers nº 1/2024

Mundo Crítico n.º 10: Desenvolvimento e paz em tempos de conflitos

Abstract:

In the face of growing polarisation and the proliferation of conflicts worldwide, it is imperative to reflect on the state of the world and seek collective solutions and pathways to peace. Development Cooperation can serve as a means of fostering dialogue and action, playing a role in the search for positive and constructive responses to promote peace and sustainable development on a global scale. However, as Sara De Simone and Pedro Rosa Mendes emphasise in the opening “imperfect conversation” of this issue, there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. It is crucial to involve all stakeholders — both formal and informal actors — in dialogue for peace and reconciliation, prioritising solutions derived from endogenous processes.

Current conflicts, especially those that are highly mediatised and have significant global repercussions, such as the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, have devastating consequences for affected populations and regional stability. Beyond these, prolonged tensions and conflicts in other parts of the world, particularly in African countries, also have destabilising effects at both regional and global levels.

In this tenth edition of Mundo Crítico – Journal of Development and Cooperation, we examine how development processes are influenced by war and latent conflicts. We ask whether “underdevelopment” is genuinely a threat or if a narrative has taken root, dividing the world into zones prone to violence on its periphery and zones of peace at its decision-making centres. As a cross-cutting theme, migration emerges, highlighting the increasing instrumentalisation of the phenomenon and concessions to far-right rhetoric, particularly within the European Union.

This edition also includes a reflection on the role of women in dialogue and action for building lasting peace, the future of fragile states —many of which are victims of climate change, the pandemic, and “proxy conflicts” reminiscent of the Cold War — and the role of cities in rural conflict zones, such as Pemba in Mozambique.

The photographic essay in this issue explores the walls (still) standing across different continents, from Brazil to the Middle East, accentuating the division of the world and the disparities in who has the right to move freely. Finally, in a more journalistic tone, we address water-related conflicts and the neglect of Africa by major global news organisations.

Cite this Journal:

ACEP & CEsA (2024). “Desenvolvimento e paz em tempos de conflitos”. ISEG/CEsA – Centro de Estudos sobre África e Desenvolvimento. Revista Mundo Crítico nº 10 (Jun 2024). ISSN 2184-1926.

Mundo Crítico n.º 9: Representações do mundo no mundo das representações

Abstract:

The ninth edition of Mundo Crítico aims to critically analyse issues related to representations of the world and the relationships between the production and construction of visual and written narratives about the “other(s)”. This focus primarily, though not exclusively, stems from the field of “development support” organisations and journalism.

The edition opens with an “imperfect conversation” between Portuguese journalist António Rodrigues and Guinean activist and community leader Miguel de Barros. They discuss the need to bring forth a different idea of peripheries and alternative narratives, as well as the spectacle often made of cooperation and development.

The Knowledge and Circumstances section begins with Spanish journalist Alfonso Armada’s reflection on our society, drawing on Guy Debord’s warning about the transformation of politics and history into spectacles for consumption. Mozambican journalist Zenaida Machado sheds light on the situation in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, where the plight of its people remains largely outside the “lens of international journalistic coverage,” overshadowed by the risks to multimillion-dollar investments in the region. From Guinea-Bissau, researcher Sumaila Jaló examines irregular migration through life stories turned into music, aiming to deconstruct prevailing perceptions of this reality. This section also features a reflection on the role of education for development and global citizenship, based on the Sinergias ED project, written by four researchers involved in the initiative. Finally, ACEP President Fátima Proença presents 10 proposals to change how NGOs communicate with society, striving for ethically grounded new narratives and information.

In Ways of Seeing, Mozambican photographer Yassmin Forte, winner of the 2023 Contemporary African Photography Prize, shares a photo essay inspired by her family’s history, beginning on the dance floor in Quelimane, Mozambique. Researcher Livia Apa explores how Senegalese television series contribute to portraying the country, while community leader Paulo Mendes reflects on the diaspora’s role in reshaping narratives about racism and the coloniser/colonised dichotomy.

In Innovations, we highlight an initiative by the Norwegian Fund for Students and Researchers that challenges the fundraising campaigns of international organisations. Meanwhile, in Graphic Echoes, illustrator Amanda Baeza offers a “two-act piece” bridging Chile and Portugal.

Finally, in Showcase, São Toméan audiovisual producer Katya Aragão and Guinean communication specialist Luana Pereira delve into books dedicated to hand-painted advertising in their respective countries, authored by a Polish graphic designer and researcher. They write inspired by and about these works.

The edition concludes with Leonor Teixeira’s review of a recent BOND guide on how NGO images should be used, always with the subjects in mind. The cover is by Guinean visual artist Nú Barreto, who created the piece especially for this edition. Happy reading!

Cite this Journal:

ACEP & CEsA (2023). “Representações do mundo no mundo das representações”. ISEG/CEsA – Centro de Estudos sobre África e Desenvolvimento. Revista Mundo Crítico nº 9 (Dez 2023). ISSN 2184-1926.

Mundo Crítico n.º 8: A cultura no sonho de justiça e de liberdade

Abstract:

In a turbulent world, the wisdom of our role models becomes even more crucial. When we recall the teachings of Amílcar Cabral, we realise how the global is intrinsically local. We hear about personality in terms of stance, behaviour, leadership, and charisma. These qualities emerge in the videos, photos, or recordings that captured the man, in the analyses shared by many, or even in the recognition of a BBC poll that ranked him among the most influential figures in contemporary global history. Yet, it is through reading his writings that young people today can truly grasp the intricate details of his character.

Cabral was not just a poet; he was a dreamer. Not just a guerrilla leader; he was a strategist. Not just a diplomat; he was a mobiliser. Not just a leader; he was a thinker. Not just a teacher; he was a custodian. Too many qualities for a single individual? Yet such is the nature of extraordinary people. They have flaws too; they are human, but they leave an indelible mark for being unique. And for bringing us hope.

In difficult times, we look in the rear-view mirror — a natural reaction for those who navigate an unclear future without clear boundaries or controlled speed. The past seems easier to interpret, though it was not necessarily easier to endure or confront.

After all, what could be harder to change today than what Cabral faced in his youth?

Organising a colonised people from nothing, in a marginalised territory, against an army that once had over 20,000 troops on the frontlines, equipped with significant air support, NATO logistics, and the diplomatic backing of powerful nations. Achieving a transcendental victory: paving the way for the liberation of Guinea and Cape Verde, fostering unity in Angola’s liberation movement, sparking a rebellion that ultimately dismantled fascism in Portugal, and inspiring a new wave of Pan-Africanist and revolutionary thought.

To his exceptional organisational skills, we must add his theoretical contributions. Examples include his conceptualisation of culture’s role in liberation, later expanded in Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed; his transformation of the Marxist reading of class struggle to depict how a subjugated people embody a national class in their anti-colonial struggle—a thesis more sophisticated than the simplistic version of Kwame Nkrumah; his metaphorical interpretation of the ambiguous role of the petty bourgeoisie—today we might say the elites—in the post-colonial period, as agents of alienated practices, a notion further developed psychologically by Frantz Fanon; or his elaboration of a new concept of unity, attainable only through what he called revolutionary praxis—a stance for his time’s movements, distinct from the shallow populism underpinning many of today’s dissenters.

All of this, while speaking to peasants with the same ease he displayed on global platforms. To some, he used examples drawn from their simple daily lives — pots, land, homes, or forests — and to others, he offered the popular wisdom of African proverbs and riddles as a point of connection to that same reality.

Cabral wielded a magic in his words, employing comparisons, metaphors, and, above all, demonstrating through them a deep respect for others — without distinction by rank, gender, or race, as we would phrase it today.

May his life’s example and legacy help us to keep hope alive.

Cite this Journal:

ACEP & CEsA (2022). “A cultura no sonho de justiça e de liberdade”. ISEG/CEsA – Centro de Estudos sobre África e Desenvolvimento. Revista Mundo Crítico nº 8 (Dez 2022). ISSN 2184-1926.

Mundo Crítico n.º 7: Ambiente e desenvolvimento: entre a utopia e a urgência

Abstract:

The overexploitation of the planet’s resources and unsustainable consumption habits have been causing environmental impacts that already constitute a true environmental emergency. One of its most visible manifestations is the unprecedented rise in global temperatures, leading to irreversible damage. In 2021, the international community gathered in Glasgow at COP26, where the climate emergency and the urgent need to phase out fossil fuel exploitation were acknowledged. However, the final agreement fell short of the required ambition.

According to calculations by civil society organizations, the agreed measures will limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, surpassing the “red lines” of safety. Among the most affected are small island states and many developing countries, which have contributed the least to the current crisis. The upcoming COP27, to be held in Egypt, represents a crucial opportunity for many Africans.

In this edition, we discuss the challenges and emergencies related to development, the environment, and climate. We begin with an “imperfect conversation” between two experts with extensive experience in Africa and Latin America.

The “Knowledge and Circumstances” section includes a reflection by Luís Fazendeiro on “North”/”Global South” inequalities, an analysis by Romy Chevallier and Alex Benkenstein on the EU-AU Summit and climate (in)justice, and Patrícia Magalhães Ferreira’s critique of incoherent policies in these areas. This is followed by insights into experiences in São Tomé and Príncipe (Jorge Carvalho), Mozambique (Mariam Abbas and Natacha Bruna), and Guinea-Bissau (Aissa Regalla de Barros). The section concludes with a reflection on nature and climate by Flora Pereira da Silva.

In “Ways of Seeing”, Portuguese photographer Mário Cruz revisits the Pasig River in the heart of Manila, describing it as “an example of the dangerous path humanity is on.” One of his photos serves as the cover of this issue, as well as the centerfold.

The “Narratives” feature stories by Portuguese journalist Vanessa Rodrigues about the mobilization of rural women in Guinea-Bissau, Mozambican journalist Armando Nhantumbo’s account of how mega-projects are pushing populations into poverty, and environmentalist Sofia Guedes Vaz’s bicycle adventure to COP26.

In “Innovations”, Ana Filipa Oliveira introduces Fakebook-ECO, an initiative aimed at combating environmental disinformation.

Ukrainian illustrator Viktoriya Kurmayeva provides a visual depiction of “Mother Nature,” and in “Escaparate”, we recommend two reports: one on financing (presented by Rita Cavaco) and another on climate (by Tomás Nogueira). Happy reading!

Cite this Journal:

ACEP & CEsA (2022). “Ambiente e desenvolvimento: entre a utopia e a urgência”. ISEG/CEsA – Centro de Estudos sobre África e Desenvolvimento. Revista Mundo Crítico nº 7 (Jul 2022). ISSN 2184-1926.