Comrades, Clients and Cousins : Colonialism, Socialism and Democratization in São Tomé and Príncipe

This book provides comprehensive information on the 500-year long colonial history, post-colonial politics, and local political culture and practice of the island republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, one of the smallest and least known African countries. CONTENTS 5 LIST OF PLATES AND FIGURES 11 ABBREVIATIONS 13 PREFACE 17 INTRODUCTION 21 The objective 21 Caribbean contours in an African environment 24 Historic background 27 The theoretical and political context 28 Relevant concepts 32 Local patterns of multiparty politics 35 The chapters 37 Research methods and sources 38 INDEX 623 CHAPTER ONE FORMATION AND RECOLONIZATION OF AN AFRICAN CREOLE SOCIETY 41 Introduction 41 The formation of the creole society 41 Settlement and slavery 43 The sugar plantations 45 External threat and economic decline 49 The Catholic mission 51 Institutional and political conflicts 52 Slave revolts and escape 55 The creolization process 57 The second colonization 59 The rise and fall of cocoa 64 From slave to serviçal 66 The recolonization of the church 68 The indentured labour system 70 External and internal responses to the labour system 71 The forros’ aversion to field labour 74 The stratification system 76 Conclusions 78 CHAPTER TWO FROM THE ORIGINS OF FORRO NATIONALISM TO INDEPENDENCE 79 Introduction 79 Political activities in the early 20th century 80 The Massacre of February 1953 85 The causes of the massacre and the number of victims 105 São Tomé’s few nationalists: exiled, dispersed and fragmented 108 The decolonization process 120 Conclusions 136 CHAPTER THREE THE SOCIALIST ONE-PARTY REGIME 141 Introduction 141 The construction of the socialist state 141 The establishment of the security apparatus 147 The administrative system and the party structure 149 Social and education policies 151 The foreign policy options 153 The constitutional framework 156 The competition for power 159 Alleged coups and invasion threats 162 The census riots and Trovoada’s imprisonment 165 Pinto da Costa’s autocracy 170 The emergence of the exile opposition 174 The performance of the state-owned economy 176 The plantation economy 179 The structure of the state-owned plantations 181 The failed diversification of the economy 189 The party’s ideological trajectory 193 Conclusions 198 CHAPTER FOUR POLITICAL TRANSITION AND ECONOMIC REFORM 203 Introduction 203 Initial political change 203 Political instability and invasion 208 The economic liberalization 211 Corruption scandals 216 The renovation of the state party 219 The transition process 227 The emergence of political parties 232 The democratic elections 239 Cocoa rehabilitation under structural adjustment 244 Conclusion 249 CHAPTER FIVE GOVERNANCE, CONFLICT AND PUBLIC PROPERTY UNDER THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM 251 Introduction 251 End of a tactical alliance 252 Continuous conflict and final break 259 The MLSTP returns to power 274 The military coup 277 The background 279 The course of the events 286 The aftermath of the coup 289 Continuous political instability 291 The initial anti-corruption drive 303 Increasing transparency and corruption scandals 306 The importance of external funds 309 The routine of corruption 313 The impunity of corruption 317 Factors in favour of corruption 319 Conclusions 323 CHAPTER SIX STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE UNDER DEMOCRATIC RULE 327 Introduction 327 The difficult relationship with the Bretton Woods institutions 329 Overambitious goals and poor performance 336 Administrative reform 346 The financial sector reform 353 The privatization of agriculture 359 Manufacture and services 375 The emergence of the oil sector 388 Controversial oil licensing rounds 402 Unmanageable debts and inefficient foreign assistance 412 Conclusions 415 CHAPTER SEVEN POLITICAL PLURALISM AND COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS 419 Introduction 419 The local elections of December 1992 420 The early legislative elections of October 1994 422 PCD pôs o país de pé (PCD has put the country on its feet) 425 Acreditar em S. Tomé e Príncipe (Believing in São Tomé and Príncipe) 431 The local patron as candidate 435 Renovar a mudança (Renew the change) 440 O partido que fala a verdade (The party that tells the truth) 443 Voto de confiança (Vote of confidence) 446 Election results 447 Legislative elections in 1998 and 2002 450 Multipartyism: characteristics and conditions 452 Conclusions 462 CHAPTER EIGHT PARTY TRAJECTORIES AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 465 Introduction 465 The political parties: MLSTP/PSD 465 The parties claiming political change: PCD-GR and ADI 469 The theree small parties: CODO, FDC and AP(PTS) 477 The 1996 presidential elections: the prelude 482 The first round 489 The voting and the aftermath 499 The final ballot 504 The 2001 presidential elections 512 Conclusions 514 CHAPTER NINE LOCAL DIMENSIONS OF POLITICS:KINSHIP, RUMOURS AND PAMPHLETS 517 Introduction 517 The impact of kinship 518 Kinship and conjugal unions types 520 The current customary union 527 The visiting union 528 Patterns of polygyny 530 Women and mothers 532 Family life in an urban neighbourhood 537 Kinship and politics 542 Rumours and anonymous pamphlets 546 The characteristics of rumours 548 Rumours and Rádio BB 550 Anonymous pamphlets 555 Conclusions 561 CONCLUSIONS 563 BIBLIOGRAPHY 577 APPENDIX ON EPRESIDENTS AND GOVERNMENT MINISTERS OF SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE 1975–2005 595 APPENDIX TWO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OF SÃO TOMÉ ANDPRÍNCIPE’S LIBERATION MOVEMENTS AND MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES 1960–2002 609 APPENDIX THREE ELECTION RESULTS 615 APPENDIX FOUR BASIC ECONOMIC DATA 1988–2004 621 DumpedBookmarks CONTENTS LIST OF PLATES AND FIGURES ABBREVIATIONS PREFACE INTRODUCTION The objective Caribbean contours in an African environment Historic background The theoretical and political context Relevant concepts Local patterns of multiparty politics The chapters Research methods and sources INDEX CHAPTER ONE FORMATION AND RECOLONIZATION OF AN AFRICAN CREOLE SOCIETY Introduction The formation of the creole society Settlement and slavery The sugar plantations External threat and economic decline The Catholic mission Institutional and political conflicts Slave revolts and escape The creolization process The second colonization The rise and fall of cocoa From slave to serviçal The recolonization of the church The indentured labour system External and internal responses to the labour system The forros’ aversion to field labour The stratification system Conclusions CHAPTER TWO FROM THE ORIGINS OF FORRO NATIONALISM TO INDEPENDENCE Introduction Political activities in the early 20th century The Massacre of February 1953 The causes of the massacre and the number of victims São Tomé’s few nationalists: exiled, dispersed and fragmented The decolonization process Conclusions CHAPTER THREE THE SOCIALIST ONE-PARTY REGIME Introduction The construction of the socialist state The establishment of the security apparatus The administrative system and the party structure Social and education policies The foreign policy options The constitutional framework The competition for power Alleged coups and invasion threats The census riots and Trovoada’s imprisonment Pinto da Costa’s autocracy The emergence of the exile opposition The performance of the state-owned economy The plantation economy The structure of the state-owned plantations The failed diversification of the economy The party’s ideological trajectory Conclusions CHAPTER FOUR POLITICAL TRANSITION AND ECONOMIC REFORM Introduction Initial political change Political instability and invasion The economic liberalization Corruption scandals The renovation of the state party The transition process The emergence of political parties The democratic elections Cocoa rehabilitation under structural adjustment Conclusion CHAPTER FIVE GOVERNANCE, CONFLICT AND PUBLIC PROPERTY UNDER THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM Introduction End of a tactical alliance Continuous conflict and final break The MLSTP returns to power The military coup The background The course of the events The aftermath of the coup Continuous political instability The initial anti-corruption drive Increasing transparency and corruption scandals The importance of external funds The routine of corruption The impunity of corruption Factors in favour of corruption Conclusions CHAPTER SIX STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE UNDER DEMOCRATIC RULE Introduction The difficult relationship with the Bretton Woods institutions Overambitious goals and poor performance Administrative reform The financial sector reform The privatization of agriculture Manufacture and services The emergence of the oil sector Controversial oil licensing rounds Unmanageable debts and inefficient foreign assistance Conclusions CHAPTER SEVEN POLITICAL PLURALISM AND COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS Introduction The local elections of December 1992 The early legislative elections of October 1994 PCD pôs o país de pé (PCD has put the country on its feet) Acreditar em S. Tomé e Príncipe (Believing in São Tomé and Príncipe) The local patron as candidate Renovar a mudança (Renew the change) O partido que fala a verdade (The party that tells the truth) Voto de confiança (Vote of confidence) Election results Legislative elections in 1998 and 2002 Multipartyism: characteristics and conditions Conclusions CHAPTER EIGHT PARTY TRAJECTORIES AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS Introduction The political parties: MLSTP/PSD The parties claiming political change: PCD-GR and ADI The theree small parties: CODO, FDC and AP(PTS) The 1996 presidential elections: the prelude The first round The voting and the aftermath The final ballot The 2001 presidential elections Conclusions CHAPTER NINE LOCAL DIMENSIONS OF POLITICS: KINSHIP, RUMOURS AND PAMPHLETS Introduction The impact of kinship Kinship and conjugal unions types The current customary union The visiting union Patterns of polygyny Women and mothers Family life in an urban neighbourhood Kinship and politics Rumours and anonymous pamphlets The characteristics of rumours Rumours and Rádio BB Anonymous pamphlets Conclusions CONCLUSIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDIX ONE PRESIDENTS AND GOVERNMENT MINISTERS OF SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE 1975–2005 APPENDIX TWO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OF SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE’S LIBERATION MOVEMENTS AND MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES 1960–2002 APPENDIX THREE ELECTION RESULTS APPENDIX FOUR BASIC ECONOMIC DATA 1988–2004

colonized In The Late 15th Century, São Tomé And Príncipe Were Ruled By Portugal For 500 Years, One Of The Longest Periods Of European Domination In Colonial History. In Fact, During This Period The Portuguese Colonized The Islands Twice. Both Colonizations Were Driven By The Production Of Tropical Cash Crops; However, They Occurred Under Rather Different Circumstances. Its Long History As A Plantation Colony Has Made This African Archipelago In Many Aspects More Akin To The Small Caribbean States. Since Its Decolonization In 1975 The Small And Impoverished Country Has Experienced Two Fundamental Changes To Its Political And Economic System In A Short Period Of 15 Years. After Embracing Socialism And A Centralized Economy At Independence, In 1990 The Country Introduced Liberal Democracy And A Free-market Economy. This Case Study Analyses The Course Of Political And Economic Changes In Postcolonial São Tomé And Príncipe. The Central Issue Of The Book Is To Which Extent Institutional Changes Based On External Models Altered Local Patterns Of Political Culture And Of Doing Politics. In Addition, It Examines The Outcome Of The Consecutive Economic Policies And Development Approaches Patterned On Theses Models. This Second Edition Has Been Completely Revised And Updated For The Period Of 1998-2005, Including The Recent Developments In The Country’s Emerging Oil Sector.

Colonized in the late 15th century, São Tomé and Príncipe were ruled by Portugal for 500 years, one of the longest periods of European domination in colonial history. In fact, during this period the Portuguese colonized the islands twice. Both colonizations were driven by the production of tropical cash crops; however, they occurred under rather different circumstances. Its long history as a plantation colony has made this African archipelago in many aspects more akin to the small Caribbean states. Since its decolonization in 1975 the small and impoverished country has experienced two fundamental changes to its political and economic system in a short period of 15 years. After embracing socialism and a centralized economy at independence, in 1990 the country introduced liberal democracy and a free-market economy. This case study analyses the course of political and economic changes in postcolonial São Tomé and Príncipe. The central issue of the book is to which extent institutional changes based on external models altered local patterns of political culture and of doing politics. In addition, it examines the outcome of the consecutive economic policies and development approaches patterned on theses models. This second edition has been completely revised and updated for the period of 1998-2005, including the recent developments in the country's emerging oil sector. "This case study analyses the course of political and economic changes in postcolonial Sao Tome and Principe. The central issue of the book is to which extent institutional changes based on external models altered local patterns of political culture and of doing politics. In addition, it examines the outcome of the consecutive economic policies and development approaches patterned on theses models. This second edition has been completely revised and updated for the period of 1998-2005, including the recent developments in the country's emerging oil sector."--Jacket