DevISSues volume 4, number 3, December 2002

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D

E V E L O P M E N T

ISSues Volume 4, number 3, December 2002

Blood, Bullets and Bodies

CONTENTS

Inside this issue:

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In Memoriam Prince Claus

Sexual Politics below the Poverty Line On 1 November 2002 Imani M. Tafari-Ama was awarded a PhD at the ISS for her research into the political economy, gender and embodiment implications of inner-

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city violence in Kingston, Jamaica’s eastern capital. Her thesis ‘Blood, Bullets and

Alumni News

Bodies: Sexual Politics below the Poverty Line’, is a critical exposé of the factors subverting the political will to act in the interest of the poor even when explicit just 5

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Dies Natalis

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International Anniversary Conference

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cause exists for such altruistic action to take place. Dr Tafari-Ama examines the current

for the most part unemployed. Some

discourse of violence in Southside,

are self-employed while a minority is

one of Kingston’s inner-city communi-

wage earning. These residents live in

The research uses a feminist and cul-

ceive the message and those who

ties, to show that gender, identity and

poor housing and socioeconomic

turally specific application of discour-

transmit it.

embodiment are all included in the

conditions and exist under the con-

se analysis to explore the meanings of

deployment of the existing political

stant threat of violence, due to the

power conveyed through language,

Like other patriarchal systems, violent

and masculinist power mechanisms.

activities of the gangs, security forces

practices and institutions. This

hegemonic masculinity presupposes

Profoundly then, sexual politics has

and itinerant criminals.

method provides an effective techni-

the subordination of women and,

que for deconstructing major power

while not homogeneous, women and

taken on a whole new meaning and

SCHOLAS

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CERES Research School

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The Limits to Growth 30 Years on - Henk Houweling

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contracts and deadly gun weaponry.

verbally, in terms that have immediate meaning for both the men who re-

practice for those disadvantaged and

Violence in Southside is rooted in the

mechanisms like the divide and rule

children are particularly disadvan-

socially excluded citizens who are for-

divisive bourgeois style of democracy

tactics or binary oppositions that have

taged in the inner-city scenario.

ced to survive below the poverty line

practised by the two main parties, the

been used to realise the hegemonic

Women’s bodies are literal battlefields

in this confined environment. The

Peoples National Party (PNP) and the

objectives of those who control the

in the reproduction of structural, dis-

thesis is the story of ongoing efforts to

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Since the

state and its apparatuses. Discourse

cursive and gender power dynamics.

improve their lives and their streets

late 1960s, politicians from both sides

analysis also made it possible to

Ironically, some women have internali-

and therefore a practical contribution

of the divide have constructed politici-

explore the identity norms and taboos

sed and reproduced their own ver-

to the cacophony of dissent which

sed garrison communities, designed

embedded in popular culture.

sions of violence in an attempt to rein-

challenges entrenched structures and

to house party affiliates. The raison

Following from this, as expressed in

force womanpower, a response that

discourses of power.

d’être of these garrisons is to enable

Southside, a discourse of violence

only dovetails into the overarching

the two main parties to secure votes

conveys the message that a ‘real’

masculinist discourse of violence.

The 6,000 residents of Southside are,

on election day. In a clientilist exchan-

man will engage in acts of interper-

However, because of and despite

characteristically, poor people of pre-

ge, party loyalists are rewarded with

sonal violence. It is structured around

their limited options and choices,

dominantly African descent who are

scarce resources like housing, labour

such acts as well as being expressed

women strategically appropriate,

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Book Launch A Tribute to Kurt Martin

continued on page 11

50 Years of the ISS The 50th Anniversary year of the ISS is drawing to a close. The programme of Anniversary activities reached their high point in October with the

As an institute for advanced international education and

International Conference on Globalisation, Conflict and Poverty and the Dies Natalis ceremony, at which three new Honorary Doctorates were awarded. In this last Development ISSues of the year, we take a final look at the Anniversary events. On pages 6 and 7, there is a summary of the

research, the ISS generates,

conference, followed on page 8 by a report on the Dies Natalis. On page 3 the Rector pays tribute to Prince Claus, himself an honorary fellow of accumulates and transfers

the ISS, who died sadly on the eve of the Anniversary week. And, to give you an idea of how the Institute has changed over the last half a century, knowledge and know-how on human aspects of economic and social change, with a focus on development and transition.

we have included a brief pictorial history of the ISS. This year, the Institute itself has been very much the centre of attention. Next year, however, DevISSues will be back in a completely new style, with more articles on the wider development issues that concern everyone in and outside the ISS. The editors wish you all a happy and safe Christmas break and hope to welcome you all back in the New Year.

The ISS is a leading centre in this field.

Development ISSues is also available online on the ISS website at www.iss.nl

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