The state, non-state community security actors, and violence in Swaziland, 2000-2011
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Date
2013
Authors
Simelane, Hamilton
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Humanities, University of the Free State
Abstract
Research and analysis of the Swaziland security sector have, up to now, escaped the attention of
scholars. This is in spite of developments that show that different segments of the Swazi population
have voiced security concerns that range from insecurity of property to economic security concerns
that undermine their efforts for economic well-being and reproduction. It is also in spite of the fact
that rural communities have constructed community security frameworks that go beyond state-centric
approaches to security. This article shows that rural Swazi communities have established non-state
community security frameworks that operate outside the realm of the state and in the process contribute
to the revision of the concept of security by emphasizing economic threats instead of military ones
and focusing on community and individual security rather than regime security. However, the author
argues that this transition should not be romanticized, because in Swaziland the development of nonstate
community security actors has been accompanied by violence and a general disregard for people’s
rights. The researcher argues that this is because non-state community security actors developed in the
context of a non-democratic state that has entrenched a culture of disrespect for human rights.
Description
Keywords
Human, Security, Non-state actors, Theft, Police, Violence, State, Corruption, Human rights abuse, Swaziland
Citation
Simelane, H. (2013). The state, non-state community security actors, and violence in Swaziland, 2000-2011. Journal for Contemporary History, 38(1), 205-228.