The Lord's Resistance Army
Myth and Reality
Tim Allen editor Koen Vlassenroot editor
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published:8th Jul '10
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The Lord's Resistance Army is Africa's most extraordinarily persistent and notorious 'terrorist' group. From the issue of child soldiers to the response of the Ugandan government, this book looks at the various aspects of this most brutal of conflicts.
The Lord's Resistance Army is Africa’s most persistent and notorious 'terrorist' group. Led by the mysterious Joseph Kony, it has committed a series of horrific human rights abuses, including massacres and mutilations. Since the mid 1980s, it has abducted tens of thousands of people, including large numbers of children forced to train as fighters. The IC in 2005 issued warrants for Kony and his top commanders, and the United States is backing a military campaign against the group. But the LRA survives, continuing to inspire both fascination and fear. Authoritative but provocative, The Lord’s Resistance Army provides the most comprehensive analysis of the group available. From the roots of the violence to the oppressive responses of the Ugandan government and the failures of the international community, this collection looks at this most brutal of conflicts in fascinating depth, and includes a remarkable first-hand interview with Kony himself.
'For those interested in a critical alternative to the official line from the ICC, this is a collection to read. It brings together a range of scholars, bright and bold, from within and outside the continent, joined by a shared commitment to a future for Africa beyond crime and punishment.' Mahmood Mamdani, author of Saviours and Survivors: Darfur, Politics and the War on Terror 'The atrocities by the LRA left behind a legacy which will not die. This book gives the true account about the war, with no stone left untouched.' Adrawa Lawrence Dulu, African Development and Peace Initiative 'Why bad things happen in Africa. ... there are no excuses for Joseph Kony and his bestial 'Christianity', but there are reasons for it rooted in the politics and history of Uganda and its neighbours. This book goes beyond the simplistic media stereotypes to provide the best analysis yet of how these child-abusers continue to defy international justice.' Geoffrey Robertson, author of Crimes Against Humanity 'This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the conflict in Uganda and in "terror" more generally.' David Keen, author of Complex Emergencies 'One could not desire a more comprehensive, wide-ranging yet coherent, deeply informed discussion of the Lord's Resistance Army than the one Allen and Vlassenroot have put together. This volume is more than "essential" and "required". It is utterly brilliant.' Kevin Dunn, author of Imagining the Congo 'This masterful, long-awaited and much-needed book transcends political agendas and uninformed stereotyping to present an astute and balanced analysis of the Lord's Resistance Army. The skilful assembling of expertise and insight from the key analysts of the LRA into a single publication makes this an essential read for researchers, practitioners, and students seeking to understand the LRA.' Nana Poku, University of Bradford 'The conflict in northern Uganda has seemingly defied coherent explanation for the past two decades, yet in this insightful, compelling and compassionate book we at last have a definitive work on the strange phenomena that is the Lord's Resistance Army. Every essay here is contributes to our understanding of the political and social forces that have created and sustained Joseph Kony and his followers. If ever a group of international writers have provided an 'insider's account' of an African struggle, then this is surely it.' David Anderson, University of Oxford 'A fascinating and revealing collection.' Harry Johnstone, Times Literary Supplement
ISBN: 9781848135635
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
368 pages