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'Dreams don't come true in Eritrea': anomie and family disintegration due to the structural militarisation of society
"In Eritrea werden keine Träume wahr": Anomie und Familiendesintegration als Folge der strukturellen Militarisierung der Gesellschaft
[journal article]
Abstract This article analyses contemporary Eritrea's acute crisis within the framework of the theory of anomie. It is based on the hypothesis that militarisation, forced labour, mass exodus and family disintegration can be interpreted as the consequences of two incompatible norm and value systems: the colle... view more
This article analyses contemporary Eritrea's acute crisis within the framework of the theory of anomie. It is based on the hypothesis that militarisation, forced labour, mass exodus and family disintegration can be interpreted as the consequences of two incompatible norm and value systems: the collectivist, nationalistic and militaristic worldview of the former liberation front and ruling party People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), and the traditional cultural system of Eritrea's society. In 2002 the regime introduced an unlimited ‘development campaign’, thereby forcing large parts of the society to live as conscripts and perform unpaid labour. This has caused a mass exodus of young people and a rapid process of family disintegration. The article is based on empirical fieldwork and evaluates the ongoing developments which have led to rapid economic decline and the destabilisation of the entire fabric of society.... view less
Keywords
Eritrea; militarization; military service; social relations; anomie; social system; family; conflict potential; conflict situation; forced labor; flight; migration; value system; ideology; economic development (on national level); family situation; developing country; East Africa
Classification
Family Sociology, Sociology of Sexual Behavior
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Peace and Conflict Research, International Conflicts, Security Policy
Free Keywords
Militär und Gesellschaft; People's Front for Democracy and Justice (Eritrea)
Document language
English
Publication Year
2013
Page/Pages
p. 139-168
Journal
The Journal of Modern African Studies, 51 (2013) 1
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022278X12000572
ISSN
1469-7777
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications
With the permission of the rights owner, this publication is under open access due to a (DFG-/German Research Foundation-funded) national or Alliance license.