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The icon that failed

Book review written by Sverre Jervell
The dictator's gaze. Robert Mugabe – from freedom hero to dictator
Forfatter: Stig Holmquist
Forlag: Carlssons Bokförlag (Sverige)
Stig Holmquist's biography of Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe describes the fall the head of state underwent, from being the 60's liberation hero to the hated dictator of the 2000. Why did it go so wrong?

The liberation fighter Robert Mugabe was an important revolutionary icon for the 68s. His struggle against Prime Minister Ian Smith and the white settlers of Rhodesia stood as the most important and visible symbol of political liberation from European colonialization of Africa at the time.

The very framework of the struggle in Rhodesia was media-friendly and easy to follow: A imprisoned intellectual African rebel is leading the fight against white settlers who control a rich and fertile part of Africa. The white settlers end up being expelled and the land distributed to poor Africans. It was easy to get sympathy with the new Prime Minister,. . .

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Sverre Jervell
Jervell (b. 1943) is a former Norwegian diplomat who, among other things, has worked in the Foreign Minister's secretariat and the Foreign Ministry's analysis department.

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Full 100-page MODERN TIMES including the appendix Orientering and Modern Times Review comes out quarterly (March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1) with international book reviews, essays and comments – in addition to the physical newspaper and PDF, the articles are eventually published online here (see also the newsletter).

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