The articles are ”Rwanda’s military as a people’s army: heroes at home and abroad” (written by Nina Wilén and Josefine Kuehnel) and ”The Burundian army’s trajectory to professionalisation and depoliticisation and back again” (written by Nina Wilén, Gérard Birantamije and David Ambrosetti).
”The Burundian army’s trajectory to professionalisation and depoliticisation and back again”:
This article examines how in particular post-conflict militaries professionalize. How can an army, which has, under a longer period of time, been a political actor in society, acquire a neutral and apolitical function? How can you depoliticise a military which has played an important role during a civil war? This article examines the Burundian army’s trajectory from being a strong political actor before and during the civil war, to gradually adopting a more neutral and apolitical stance after the end of the war.
”Rwanda’s military as a people’s army: heroes at home and abroad”:
This article looks at how the Rwandan post-genocide military has acquired a new identity, strongly inspired by the two concepts: “people’s army” and “hero”. The Rwandan government’s focus on national heroes is reflected in the military institution’s centrality in the Rwandan society, and contributes to a militarisation of the Rwandan state, as well as a privileged role for the Rwandan soldier.
More information regarding the Journal or the articles can be found on tandfonline.com