Hero-systems, Military Dictatorship and the Silencing of Academic Community in Suriname

• Autore: Natascha Adama
• Carica: Visiting Professor in Political Science at the Foundation of Interdisciplinary Research on the Dutch Caribbean, Duke University
• Pagine: 153-170

ISSN: 2612-6672

3 • 2 • 2021

N. Adama

Hero-systems, Military Dictatorship and

the Silencing of Academic Community

in Suriname

https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/NAD/index

Hero-systems, military dictatorship, and the silencing of

the academic community in Suriname

Natascha Adama*

Abstract

This paper is concerned with academic silencing in Suriname and its links with the conflict

that took place at the national level, which was given scant consideration in research.

Emphasis will be given to the establishment of the hero-system in order to ensure peace

and the connections between academic silencing, dictatorship and law and order.

Keywords: Academic Freedom – Silencing – Hero-System – Revolution – Suriname –

Military Dictatorship – Dutch Canon – Dutch Black Lives Matter.

CONTENTS: 1. Introduction and Key Definitions. 2. Theoretical Framework. 3.

Academic Freedom and Academic Silencing. 4. The Case of Suriname. 4.1

Academic Freedom in Suriname before 1980. 4.2 The Revolution and Iconization.

4.3 Academic Freedom after 1980. 4.4 Anton de Kom and Palimpsest. 4.5 Anton

de Kom, the Symbol of Dutch Black Power. 5. Conclusions.

*Visiting Professor in Political Science at the Foundation of Interdisciplinary Research on the Dutch

Caribbean, Duke University. This paper is dedicated to Dr. Gerard Leckie, Dean of t he Faculty of

Social Sciences, who was exe cuted by the military on 8 December 1982 in an attempt to silence

him. The essay was peer-review by the Editorial Board. Member of the Editorial Team who oversaw

the essay: Laura Alessandra Nocera. English editing: Pietro Manzella.