Introduction

The political transition processes of the 1990s in Mozambique and Angola came short of expectations in terms of promoting effective pluralism and democratisation. Within a long historical tradition of authoritarianism, violence and autocratic rule, from the colonial period through the anti-colonial struggle and the so-called socialist single party period, former single parties won elections and retained power, re-legitimising (domestically and internationally) their autocratic and authoritarian governance and hegemony [...]