From The ‘Island Of Peace’ Myth To Massacre
When Issa Shivji presented the case of Tanzania’s unfolding “silent class struggle” more than five decades ago, the political terrain was still fertile enough to engage with such analysis, even if the ruling class lacked the courage to confront it.
Fast-forward to today, and that context has radically shifted. The state and much of the population have become deeply invested in superstitious neoliberal illusions, leaving little room for class-based critique. This transformation has also reinforced the power of the long-standing nationalistic slogan, “the Island of Peace,” a carefully constructed myth that masks inequality and silences dissent.