Paper short abstract:

The main objective of the article will be to see if, as a state, Mozambique meets all the conditions contained in Barry Buzan's model, which consists of the physical basis of the state, the institutional dimension of the state, the idea of statehood, and sovereignty.

Paper long abstract:

The aim of this article is to present Mozambique's statehood in the context of Barry Buzan's model, taking into account the functioning of civil society in the country. The analysis aims to see what changes have taken place in the area of the functioning of this state between 1992 and 2015. The analysis was conducted in macroeconomic terms, but also referred to the living situation of the people of this state. The population of Mozambique was framed in two ways, as part of the physical base of the state and as part of the idea of the state in the form of civil society. The methods used to carry out the study were content analysis of source materials, studies, reports that dealt with the functioning of Mozambique, in the areas studied. The areas considered in the model were the physical base (territory and population), the institutional dimension (functioning of local and state institutions) and the idea of the state (language, ethnicity, the condition of civil society and the functioning of CSOs). The analysis shows that Mozambique, as a state, has remained dysfunctional since the beginning of its independent existence and has largely failed to fulfil the tasks set for any state. The lack of transformation of the social structure since the colonial era, but also the lack of independence at the different levels and the failed political and economic reforms, have led to a situation where Mozambique must be called a dysfunctional and fragile state.