‘The Kurosawan story of the origins of the state is still played out in our times in Africa, where gangs of armed men grab power — do away with their rivals, and proclaim Year One. Though these African military gangs are often no larger or more powerful than the organized criminal gangs of Asia or eastern Europe, their activities are respectfully covered in the media — even in the Western media — under the heading of politics (world affairs) rather than crime.
One can cite examples of the birth or rebirth of the state from Europe too. In the vacuum of power left by the defeat by the armies of the Third Reich in 1944-5, rival armed gangs scrambled to take charge of the newly liberated nations; who took power where was determined by who could call on what foreign army for backing.’
– Senor C (the main character is an author) writing in J M Coetzee’s most recent novel, Diary of a Bad Year (2007) which I am reading now.
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