The social integration of demobilised ex-combatants in Mozambique.

[摘要] This study is an analysis of the social integration of demobilised soldiers inMozambique, in the context of post-war social reconstruction. De-constructing theconcept of reintegration that informed the top-down programmes designed for thesocial integration of ex-combatants, that dichotomize society into the military sphereand the civilian one, so that the process into which ex-combatants are involved afterleaving the Army is one of returning home, as society remaining the same or in amoving equilibrium, one saw society- marked by social differentiations, evenamongst the demobilised ex-combatants. The ideal of sameness between civiliansand ex-combatants involved in the concept of reintegration seems more an utopia.This research used previous studies of my colleagues. In criticizing them, I do notwish to create the impression that these works are of little value. Their analysis standfrom very different disciplinary approaches, and with others aims. The majorweakness I often saw was the indefinition of the terms they use and the mix ofconcepts like social integration and reintegration as having the same meaning. Otherdocumentary research was carried out, and as the study included the understandingof meanings, values, individual actions and social interactions, in order to capturethe meaningfulness of such life other qualitative methods were employed as theinformal interviews, the use of key informants, participation in and observation ofevents in the setting.Looking society in a dynamic change, social integration is regarded as the process ofnegotiation of a common social order between actors in interaction (demobilisedsoldiers, other social groupings, and institutions like the state). It is better approachedusing the concept of integration. As an interactive process it is marked by a tensionbetween the affirmation of the individuality of actors and the will to the sense ofcommunity. In its course different actors mobilise and use different identitiesaccording to the situations. avoiding or erasing specificities of previous socializationsand identities and highlighting others.This study is an analysis of the social integration of demobilised soldiers inMozambique, in the context of post-war social reconstruction. De-constructing theconcept of reintegration that informed the top-down programmes designed for thesocial integration of ex-combatants, that dichotomize society into the military sphereand the civil one, so that the process into which ex-combatants is one of returninghome, as society remaining the same or in a moving equilibrium, one saw societyfull of differentiations, even within the groups social defined as demobilisedsoldiers. The ideal of sameness involved in the concept of reintegration seemsmore an utopia. Society is full of social differentiation, and the group of demobiIisedsoldiers also inmarked by differences of gender, age, marital status, previous militaryaffiliation and rank, control of resources and social status in the living/working place,marital status.This study used previous studies of my colleagues. In criticizing them, I do not wishto create the impression that these works are of little value. Their analysis stand fromvery different disciplinary approaches, and with others aims. The major weakness Ioften saw was the indefinition of the terms they use and the mix of concepts likesocial integration and reintegration as having the same meaning. Other documentaryresearch was carried out, and as the study included the understanding of meanings,values, individual actions and social interactions, to capture the meaningfulness ofsuch life other qualitative methods were employed: informal interviews, the use of keyinformants, participation in and observation of events in the setting.Looking society in a dynamic change, the process of negotiation of a social orderbetween actors in interaction (demobilised soldiers, other social groupings, andinstitutions like the state) is better approached using the concept of social integration.As an interactive process, in its course different actors mobilise and use differentidentities, the most convenient for each occasion, in a way that sometimes involvesthe attempt to erase specificities of previous socializations and identities.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand