The overarching goal of this research project will be to use an example of contemporary nonviolent political resistance in Mozambique and connect it the historical practices and violence perpetrated by the Portuguese in their occupation and reign over the former colony. The protests turned riots over food and standard of living in September 2010 were hardly a one off event – instead, they (and the response to them) are simply a microcosm of the evolving struggles Mozambique has faced post-colonialism. Sources will be used to analyze these connections through the understanding of violence and nonviolence presented by modern authors. Ultimately, the objective of this project is to trace a modern example of state violence to examine the current state of Mozambique, and then trace the history of these ideas back to their roots of Portuguese governed colonial Mozambique.
