Social Representations

Abstract

Social representations perform a necessary function by helping us to categorize and process associations for healthy relationships and placement in society that we can identify with. Countries, like Mozambique, have arguably a distorted social categorization practices due to colonial effects imposed by Portugal during the slave trade . Effects from colonialism have resulted in a stunted culture shared by all Mozambicans. The native response to colonialism, which was to entirely outlaw traditional practices, gives further insight into how history has dramatically affected Mozambique. The historical and cultural process of Mozambican society has regrettably fallen victim to global capitalism and dictatorship and this continues to plague the region to this very day. As a result of colonialism, cultural disagreements and the war machine, movements with distorted ideologies continue to develop and evolve only to reflect current conditions of the society they are currently living in, not offering any real change or relief from economic suffering and political anguish by varying identerest groups.

Introduction

Differences in religious beliefs are one of many major forces for conflict in our world today. In addition, varying historical accounts of a country's origin can also prove to be substantial enough to drive man to war. When there is a sudden renewal of causes combined with disenfranchised peoples, it seemingly will always lead to a varying form of irregular war. Irregular warfare is warfare in which one or more combatants are opposition against the state and it's military forces. Models and views associated with irregular warfare are older than the term itself. That being said, history is also a major force for conflict as it is always present and active. In fact, it can encompass the fabric of a people and allows for easy associations due to historical accounts and shared experiences. In the best of cases, social representations perform a necessary function by helping us to categorize and process associations for healthy relationships and placement in society that we can identify with. Countries, like Mozambique, have arguably a distorted social categorization practices due to colonial effects imposed by Portugal during the slave trade . Effects from colonialism have resulted in a stunted culture shared by all Mozambicans. The native response to colonialism, which was to entirely outlaw traditional practices, gives further insight into how history has dramatically affected Mozambique. The historical and cultural process of Mozambican society has regrettably fallen victim to global capitalism and dictatorship and this continues to plague the region to this very day. As a result of colonialism, cultural disagreements and the war machine, movements with distorted ideologies continue to develop and evolve only to reflect current

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