Papering Over the Gap. Dutch Policy and Post-Independence Fragility in Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique

Abstract

How does one of globalisation’s winners relate to some of its losers? For decades the Netherlands has proclaimed its commitment to peace, security, equitable growth and decent governance in Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique. But it is also committed to serving such objectives as interpreted by other powerful interests, not least being global enterprise and international financial institutions. Global relations affecting these three battered and still crippled states illustrate tendencies whereby the Dutch, among other rich countries, continue papering over the gaps between policy and practice, aims and outcomes.