Jean Comaroff & John L. Comaroff's "Law and Disorder in Postcolony" (Book Note)

 

Law and Disorder in the Postcolony is a compilation of essays brings together an array of international scholars who seek to comprehend the various manifestations of violence and disorder commonly observed in postcolonial contexts. In their extensive introduction, Jean and John Comaroff, distinguished anthropologists from the University of Chicago, delve into fundamental questions: how should we interpret the prevalent levels of corruption, violence, and criminality often encountered in postcolonial nations, where paradoxically, there is a proliferation of litigious activity and legal discourse? To what degree are these attributes specific to the postcolony? The subsequent eight contributions, authored by anthropologists, sociologists, and political scientists, draw from extensive research to examine these dynamics in locations such as Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa, among others. The outcome is a mosaic of insights that shed crucial light on the postcolony and broader governance themes in an increasingly interconnected world.

 

The editors acknowledge the complexities surrounding the term 'postcolonial,' employing it here primarily to refer to nations in the southern hemisphere whose colonial legacies were dismantled in recent decades. Yet, they underscore the significance of studying these countries collectively, as they believe there is something distinctive in their shared encounters with law and disorder. The impacts of profound structural adjustments, neoliberal reforms, and globalization have presented postcolonial nations, still contending with the vestiges of their colonial histories, with fresh and more intricate governance challenges. Confronted with privatization and an increasingly diverse populace, postcolonial states grapple with the imperatives of neoliberal policies alongside the popular clamor for order. Amid these transformations, the boundaries between private and public spheres, informal and formal practices, and legal and illegal activities grow progressively blurred. For the editors, this portrayal of the postcolony mirrors a global trajectory, rendering it a critical arena for cutting-edge research and theoretical advancement.

 

With this context in mind, numerous essays in the compilation scrutinize the State's struggle with crime and lawlessness in a period of sweeping transition. For instance, Peter Geschiere's chapter on the legal proceedings concerning witchcraft in Cameroon and South Africa delineates how the State has ventured into new legal territories to quell public anxieties. The contribution by the Comaroffs also delves into the State's response to popular apprehensions about crime in South Africa, focusing on various sites, notably the police force's conspicuous displays of authority aimed at instilling public confidence. These contributions demonstrate how these policies have, rather unexpectedly, heightened public concerns about crime and underscored the State's inefficacy. Both articles exemplify the unintended repercussions of the State's endeavors to dictate the interpretation of its actions in nations characterized by diverse local and national cultures.

 

Several essays, with great finesse, concentrate on the contentious interpretations of justice in regions marked by uneven state development. Notably, two pieces centered on Brazil scrutinize the contentious meanings of crime and human rights in the country's recent tumultuous history. Teresa Caldeira's chapter offers an insightful examination of how rights have been mobilized by various social movements across the political spectrum in the sprawling urban peripheries of the country. Meanwhile, Nancy Scheper-Hughes highlights the increasingly prevalent and semi-official role of death squads in dispensing justice and public services. Both essays illuminate how genuine concerns among the populace regarding security and safety have spurred vastly different reactions to governance, many of which represent disconcerting undemocratic trends. These essays, among others, reveal the ways in which vulnerable populations engage with the very institutions that subject them to victimization.