Legacy of one party dictatorship : collective memory and contestation in Malawi 1994-2004

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorGaruba, Harryen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMweso, Clemenceen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-05-26T14:06:14Z
dc.date.available2015-05-26T14:06:14Z
dc.date.issued2014en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis thesis explores the significance of the use of historical memory in shaping the nature and dynamics of the democratic dispensation in Malawi, particularly in relation to the legacy of the authoritarian past. The memory of the one-party dictatorship was reactivated on numerous occasions to address contemporary political challenges. Focusing on the period during the second term of the first democratic government when there was a debate on whether or not to extend the terms of office of the president, the thesis investigates how people, individually or as groups, chose to deal with the heritage of the authoritarian past in a democratic era. The proposals to extend the presidential term limit ignited political debates in the contemporary period, that involved collective remembering of the past dictatorship, and political contestation over the shared past in order to create a vibrant democratic process. The thesis shows how the new political elites in democratic Malawi tended to utilise the collective memory of the past dictatorship to legitimise their rule, mobilize support and at times push through agendas that were detrimental to the young democracy. While civil society actors building on strong antidictatorship and anti-authoritarian sentiments, relied on the same collective memory to criticise the actions of the new elite and protest against undemocratic political moves. It is demonstrated that the memory of the atrocities and abuses of the one-party regime played a major role in influencing the masses and civil society to fight against any relapse to authoritarianism. The study ultimately demonstrates the importance of collective memory and its preservation in ensuring that lessons from the past contribute to a better present and future for the nation.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationMweso, C. (2014). <i>Legacy of one party dictatorship : collective memory and contestation in Malawi 1994-2004</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,African Studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12836en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMweso, Clemence. <i>"Legacy of one party dictatorship : collective memory and contestation in Malawi 1994-2004."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,African Studies, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12836en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMweso, C. 2014. Legacy of one party dictatorship : collective memory and contestation in Malawi 1994-2004. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Mweso, Clemence AB - This thesis explores the significance of the use of historical memory in shaping the nature and dynamics of the democratic dispensation in Malawi, particularly in relation to the legacy of the authoritarian past. The memory of the one-party dictatorship was reactivated on numerous occasions to address contemporary political challenges. Focusing on the period during the second term of the first democratic government when there was a debate on whether or not to extend the terms of office of the president, the thesis investigates how people, individually or as groups, chose to deal with the heritage of the authoritarian past in a democratic era. The proposals to extend the presidential term limit ignited political debates in the contemporary period, that involved collective remembering of the past dictatorship, and political contestation over the shared past in order to create a vibrant democratic process. The thesis shows how the new political elites in democratic Malawi tended to utilise the collective memory of the past dictatorship to legitimise their rule, mobilize support and at times push through agendas that were detrimental to the young democracy. While civil society actors building on strong antidictatorship and anti-authoritarian sentiments, relied on the same collective memory to criticise the actions of the new elite and protest against undemocratic political moves. It is demonstrated that the memory of the atrocities and abuses of the one-party regime played a major role in influencing the masses and civil society to fight against any relapse to authoritarianism. The study ultimately demonstrates the importance of collective memory and its preservation in ensuring that lessons from the past contribute to a better present and future for the nation. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - Legacy of one party dictatorship : collective memory and contestation in Malawi 1994-2004 TI - Legacy of one party dictatorship : collective memory and contestation in Malawi 1994-2004 UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12836 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/12836
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMweso C. Legacy of one party dictatorship : collective memory and contestation in Malawi 1994-2004. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,African Studies, 2014 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12836en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentAfrican Studiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherAfrican Studiesen_ZA
dc.titleLegacy of one party dictatorship : collective memory and contestation in Malawi 1994-2004en_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMPhilen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_hum_2014_mweso_c.pdf
Size:
1.92 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters