Deriving from the data gathered in Praia, Cape Verde, through a combination of archival research, informed direct and focus groups interviews, during the summers of 2010 and 2011, the author argues that diglossic language policy limits the quality of democracy by way of lower classes' diminished surveillartory and initiatory political participation.

This book argues that the state in Cabo Verde is illegible since its operations, procedures, and processes are carried out through Portuguese, a language that most of the people do not understand. Consequently, the illegible state produces grave political consequences in overall political participation and the quality of democracy.

In the last thirty years, there has been a shift in the Cabo Verdean community in the ways it perceives itself ethnically and racially, in the creation of opportunities for socio-economic mobility, and in the pursuit of new migratory patterns within the United States to take advantage of these opportunities. Existing scholarship on the historical and contemporary experiences of Cabo Verdeans in the US has been hyper-focused on racial and ethnic identities, neglecting the space for Cabo Verdeans to share their stories, which makes this collection unique. Cabo Verdeans in the United States: Twenty-First Century Critical Perspectives edited by Terza A. Silva Lima-Neves centers Cabo Verdean stories as told by Cabo Verdeans to explore community building and challenges in the twenty-first century. The contributors examine questions of solidarity, loss of innocence, and what it means to live authentically and exist intentionally in safe spaces. They offer critical reflections on traditional cultural gender norms, and they discuss the intersections of cultural stigmas, mental and physical health, and access to care. Using interviews and personal experiences, the contributors challenge existing Cabo Verdean scholars to see the value in documenting their experiences and contributions in the United States.

The Cape Verde Islands, an Atlantic archipelago off the coast of Senegal, were first settled during the Portuguese Age of Discovery in the fifteenth century. A "Crioula" population quickly evolved from a small group of Portuguese settlers and large numbers of slaves from the West African coast. In this important, integrated new study, Dr. Richard Lobban sketches Cape Verde's complex history over five centuries, from its role in the slave trade through its years under Portuguese colonial administration and its protracted armed struggle on the Guinea coast for national independence, there and in Cape Verde. Lobban offers a rich ethnography of the islands, exploring the diverse heritage of Cape Verdeans who have descended from Africans, Europeans, and Luso-Africans. Looking at economics and politics, Lobban reflects on Cape Verde's efforts to achieve economic growth and development, analyzing the move from colonialism to state socialism, and on to a privatized market economy built around tourism, fishing, small-scale mining, and agricultural production. He then chronicles Cape Verde's peaceful transition from one-party rule to elections and political pluralism. He concludes with an overview of the prospects for this tiny oceanic nation on a pathway to development.

A reference guide to the history of one of Africa's smallest, poorest countries, with alphabetically arranged entries discussing important events and individuals, a detailed introduction, a chronology, and a bibliography.