The liberation lens: revolutionary rhetoric in Southern Africa

Abstract

This article examines the revolutionary rhetoric that pervades contemporary

Southern African politics. As the majority of governments in Southern African

states continue to be dominated by former national liberation movements, contemporary

political discourse is profoundly shaped by the experiences of exile and war. Building upon the rich literature on memorial politics, this article develops the concept of the “liberation lens” to analyze how African political elites repurpose the historically infused language of the liberation struggle to address present-day political issues. As the liberation lens is transferred from generation to generation, it is a revealing example of conflict continuity.