08/25/2022
By Karen Mullins
The School of Criminology and Justice Studies is proud to announce a doctoral dissertation defense by Melissa E. Swauncy-Coleman entitled "Strain Theory, Clientelism and Symbolic Politics in Post-Colonial Mass Dictatorships: A Qualitative Case Study of Suriname."
Thursday, Sept. 15, 1 p.m.
Via Zoom
Committee Members:
- Christopher Linebarger, Chair
- Arie Perliger
- Wilson Palacios
- Kjell Anderson
ABSTRACT: As many post-colonial societies are currently experiencing a dictatorship or democratic backsliding, there is a need to understand why such countries seem particularly vulnerable to authoritarian rule. More pressingly, it is necessary to understand why mass dictatorships, authoritarian governments that enjoy strong support from citizens, thrive. This proposal aims to examine how strains caused by colonialism prompt citizens to support leaders who provide coping mechanisms for those strains, regardless of (and at times because of) violent tactics. Qualitative fieldwork will be carried out in Suriname, a country that has seen both colonialism, military dictatorship and democracy over the last fifty years. Using open-ended interviews with Surinamese people who lived during the military period, documents from the Suriname-Dutch archive, and personal writings this study seeks to understand how and why dictators amass popular support by understanding the local perspective on the Military Regime and their actions. Data collected will be analyzed both thematically and through sentiment analysis. Analyzing how strain effects both support for and resistance against the regime allows for a better picture of how strain effects support for state violence.