In Idi Amin’s Shadow: Women, Gender, and Militarism in Uganda (New African Histories)

In Idi Amin’s Shadow is a rich social history examining Ugandan women’s complex and sometimes paradoxical relationship to Amin’s military state. Based on more than one hundred interviews with women who survived the regime, as well as a wide range of primary sources, this book reveals how the violence of Amin’s militarism resulted in both opportunities and challenges for women. Some assumed positions of political power or became successful entrepreneurs, while others endured sexual assault or experienced the trauma of watching their brothers, husbands, or sons “disappeared” by the state’s security forces. In Idi Amin’s Shadow considers the crucial ways that gender informed and was informed by the ideology and practice of militarism in this period. By exploring this relationship, Alicia C. Decker offers a nuanced interpretation of Amin’s Uganda and the lives of the women who experienced and survived its violence. Each chapter begins with the story of one woman whose experience illuminates some larger theme of the book. In this way, it becomes clear that the politics of military rule were highly relevant to women and gender relations, just as the politics of gender were central to militarism. By drawing upon critical security studies, feminist studies, and violence studies, Decker demonstrates that Amin’s dictatorship was far more complex and his rule much more strategic than most observers have ever imagined. Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgments 12 Abbreviations 16 A Note on the Use of Names 18 Introduction: In Search of Amin’s Women 20 1. Violence, Militarism, and Masculinity: The Making of Idi Amin 35 2. Gender, Performance, and Pain: The Rise of Amin’s Dictatorship 59 3. Of Miniskirts and Morality: Femininity in Service of the State 78 4. An Accidental Liberation: Women on the Front Lines of the Economic War 94 5. Neither a Privilege nor a Curse: Women and the Politics of Empowerment 111 6. Widows without Graves: Disappearance and the Politics of Invisibility 133 7 Violence in the Shadows: Gender and the Collapse of the Military State 154 8 Militant Motherhood: Women on the Front Lines of the Liberation War 167 Conclusion: Gendered Legacies of Amin’s Militarism 189 Appendix: Methods and Sources 194 Notes 200 Bibliography 240 Index 256 "In Idi Amin’s Shadow is a rich social history examining Ugandan women’s complex and sometimes paradoxical relationship to Amin’s military state. Based on more than one hundred interviews with women who survived the regime,as well as a wide range of primary sources,this book reveals how the violence of Amin’s militarism resulted in both opportunities and challenges for women. Some assumed positions of political power or became successful entrepreneurs,while others endured sexual assault or experienced the trauma of watching their brothers,husbands,or sons “disappeared” by the state’s security forces. In Idi Amin’s Shadow considers the crucial ways that gender informed and was informed by the ideology and practice of militarism in this period. By exploring this relationship,Alicia C. Decker offers a nuanced interpretation of Amin’s Uganda and the lives of the women who experienced and survived its violence. Each chapter begins with the story of one woman whose experience illuminates some larger theme of the book. In this way,it becomes clear that the politics of military rule were highly relevant to women and gender relations,just as the politics of gender were central to militarism. By drawing upon critical security studies,feminist studies,and violence studies,Decker demonstrates that Amin’s dictatorship was far more complex and his rule much more strategic than most observers have ever imagined. " New African Histories In Idi Amin's Shadow is a rich social history examining Ugandan women's complex relationship to Amin's military state. Based on more than one hundred interviews with women who survived the regime, as well as a wide range of primary sources, this book reveals how the violence of Amin's militarism resulted in both opportunities and challenges for women. Some assumed positions of political power or became successful entrepreneurs, while others endured sexual assault or experienced the trauma of watching their brothers, husbands, or sons be "disappeared" by the state's security forces. Alicia C. Decker considers the crucial ways that gender informed and was informed by the ideology and practice of militarism in this period. By exploring this relationship, she offers a nuanced interpretation of Amin's Uganda and the lives of the women who experienced and survived its violence. Each chapter begins with the story of one woman whose experience illuminates some larger theme of the book. In this way, it becomes clear that the politics of military rule were highly relevant to women and gender relations, just as the politics of gender were central to militarism. By drawing upon critical security studies, feminist studies, and violence studies, Decker demonstrates that Amin's dictatorship was far more complex and his rule much more strategic than most observers have ever imagined. Book jacket Contents......Page 8 List of Illustrations......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Abbreviations......Page 16 A Note on the Use of Names......Page 18 Introduction: In Search of Amin’s Women......Page 20 1. Violence, Militarism, and Masculinity: The Making of Idi Amin......Page 35 2. Gender, Performance, and Pain: The Rise of Amin’s Dictatorship......Page 59 3. Of Miniskirts and Morality: Femininity in Service of the State......Page 78 4. An Accidental Liberation: Women on the Front Lines of the Economic War......Page 94 5. Neither a Privilege nor a Curse: Women and the Politics of Empowerment......Page 111 6. Widows without Graves: Disappearance and the Politics of Invisibility......Page 133 7 Violence in the Shadows: Gender and the Collapse of the Military State......Page 154 8 Militant Motherhood: Women on the Front Lines of the Liberation War......Page 167 Conclusion: Gendered Legacies of Amin’s Militarism......Page 189 Appendix: Methods and Sources......Page 194 Notes......Page 200 Bibliography......Page 240 Index......Page 256