The Soccer War
P.111 through 119
September 9, 2007
1:25 P.M.
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.Indent After Ben Bella's coup, the reader is able to see the role that the army plays in politics in Algeria and later on in Africa. The army is able to provide the stability that the government is looking with the use of force. Boumedienne turns the Algerian government into a military regime, as he believes that only the army's discipline can turn the country around; only the army can stabilize Algeria as an independent country. But is the army really the honorary institution the government portrays it to be?
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.Indent In this section of the book we can truly see what role the army actually plays in oppressing the government's opposition. "This army knows crowd control like the rosary. And it has the most modern equipment to enforce it (117)." That's the what stability is in Algeria: a government with no opposition free to rule as they please. By quieting opposition, the government can go on with their practices without having to compromise with anyone. This is a very dangerous practice; it brings anything but stability. Stability, in my opinion, is when a government can peacefully live with its opposition; the government is smart to compromise enough with their opposition to keep them happy, yet not enough to ruin their plans for governing. The oppressive stance the army is taking will just cause resentment and scars that will later on come afloat possibly toppling the government or causing a Civil War. So the stability produced by the use of force is just superficial; one caused by fear and tyranny.
.Indent In this section of the book we can truly see what role the army actually plays in oppressing the government's opposition. "This army knows crowd control like the rosary. And it has the most modern equipment to enforce it (117)." That's the what stability is in Algeria: a government with no opposition free to rule as they please. By quieting opposition, the government can go on with their practices without having to compromise with anyone. This is a very dangerous practice; it brings anything but stability. Stability, in my opinion, is when a government can peacefully live with its opposition; the government is smart to compromise enough with their opposition to keep them happy, yet not enough to ruin their plans for governing. The oppressive stance the army is taking will just cause resentment and scars that will later on come afloat possibly toppling the government or causing a Civil War. So the stability produced by the use of force is just superficial; one caused by fear and tyranny.
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.Indent Kapuscinski describes the crude reality of the army. It became a "mafia" and "something of a religious sect (119)." The army became the pushing force for a young and inexperienced government.
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