Bare Life and the Developmental State: Implications of the Militarisation of Higher Education in Eritrea

In: The journal of modern African studies: a quarterly survey of politics, economics & related topics in contemporary Africa, Band 46, Heft 1, S. 111-131

Abstract

In this article Eritrea is discussed as a developmental state based on biopolitics. Taking the example of higher education, it is shown how the biopolitical project as applied to education policies and human resource development at first succeeded in terms of reinforcing personal nationalism, while at the same time opening up spaces for the fulfilment of personal aspirations. Of late, however, the biopolitical project has turned pernicious and has become a tool of oppression. These developments, if they are to continue, will not only jeopardise the state's developmental agenda but may lead to the Eritrean polity in its present form becoming unviable. Adapted from the source document.