In all but a few african countries there is an obsession with ethnicity and its problems. Ethnicity and political pluralism in kenya shilaho westen kwatemba shilaho kwatemba is a phd candidate in the political studies department, university of the witwatersrand, johannesburg email. Ethnic factors in politics among others are closely examined, while at the same time avoiding overstating their significance. Submitted by francis acquah to the university of exeter. A difficulty that all authors of textbooks on african politics face is that, while common themes run through the studies they must accommodate, the continent is extremely diverse. African politics in comparative perspective cambridge. Ethnicity, especially when combined with territorial identity, is a reality that exists independently of political maneuvers. Routledge handbook of african politics 1st edition nic. Roessler models africas weak, ethnicallydivided states as confronting rulers with a coupcivil war trap sharing power with ethnic rivals is necessary to underwrite societal peace and prevent civil war, but increases rivals capabilities to seize sovereign power in a coup detat. This website established march, 2002 brings together a number of wim van binsbergens articles on the social anthropology and intercultural philosophy of ethnicity, identity and politics.
States of violence critical african studies in gender and sexuality. Such manifestations of ethnicity are directly related to africas experience of colonialism and modernity. Ethnicity and democracy in africa edited by bruce berman. Gender, ethnicity, and violence in kenyas transitions to democracy. Second, if the role that ethnicity plays is to secure an advantage in the competition for power, then it is likely to be most useful, and to become most salient as a. Lgbt issues as another manifestation of the struggle for universal freedom. Actors, power and mobiliza tion under ethnic federalism, is made up of a laconic preface, eight.
Under colonial rule, british army officers of the 1950s understood that the law was malleable to their definition of necessity bennett, 20, 1. He uses these party types to show that the african political landscape is considerably more. On the instantiation of political ethnicity, ethnicity is politicized, politics is. American politics and the african american quest for universal freedom is a very comprehensive, informative book that details the major actors, events, and issues in african american politics. Although, like most west african countries, ghana is mostly christian in the south and mostly muslim in the north, christianity overall dominates the country, with only around 15 percent of ghanaians following. Nic cheeseman is university lecturer in african politics at the university of oxford, joint editor of african affairs, and founder of. Journal compilation asen well written and well researched. The politics of identity and ethnicity will remain a fundamental characteristic of. Ethnicconflict and its manifestations in the politics of. Actors, power and mobilization under ethnic federalism, e.
A helpful chapter is ch 9, ethnicity and conflict, which provides a summary. Ethnicity shaped politics and neoliberal political ideology further blocked womens integration into politics in substantive ways. The challenges of ethnicity, multiparty democracy and. During the last two decades, especially, a number of scholars have produced work that shows the dynamic character of ethnic groups or tribes and ethnic affiliations. This paper contributes to debates on the crisis of the african state, particularly the challenge posed by the rentseeking elite, ethnicity and political violence. Areas covered range from political system types, political economies, and political cultures of diverse. An introduction to african politics, state, civil society and external interests chapter 1, pages 16. A case study of nkusukumekumfienyan area of the central region. Sebastian elischer finds that five party types exist. Sociologists and socialpsychologists extend the term to group attitudes shown by religious, economic, racial, caste and class group. Rather it was an outpouring of anger, frustration, and resentment built up for decades along. An introduction to african politics, this course will provide for its participants a general survey of the main issues regarding politics in the continent. Pdf american politics and the african american quest for. According to anthropologists, the concept combines the belief that ones own culture is superior to other cultures, with the practice of judging other cultures by the standards of ones own culture.
This is partly because of the tendency to view ethnic difference as a major cause or driver of civil wars or political instability in africa. In this groundbreaking book, philip roessler addresses this question. Ethnicity and political division in ghana geocurrents. By a member of one of afrikanerdoms leading apartheid families, it goes into the heart of darkness of a country in turmoil. Civil society, whose revival was much vaunted, was riven by communal tensions particularly of ethnicity and. Culture, race, and identity represents an excellent contribution to the field of bioethics. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. In most accounts, burundis persistent civil war fits contemporary discourse of the failed neopatrimonial state in which opportunistic elites mobilize ethnicity for economic gain.
Over the years, he has frequently explored these aspects of african societies. Does the decision of the democratic alliance da to nominate mamphela ramphele as its 2014 presidential candidate signal the beginning of the end of racebased politics in south africa. Ethnic politics in kenya violence in twentieth century. African continent the berlin conference of 19841985 gave rise to the. It argues that colonial capitalist interests established certain patterns of gender exploitation that extended into the postcolonial period such that the indigenous bourgeoisie took the form of an ethnicized elite. The logic of ethnic and religious conflict in africa. Identity politics is a political approach and analysis based on people prioritizing the concerns most relevant to their particular racial, religious, ethnic, sexual, social, cultural or other identity, and forming exclusive political alliances with others of this group, instead of engaging in more traditional, broadbased party politics.
Political competition and ethnic identification in africa. Posners book should still be recognised as an important contribution to understanding the relationship between politics and ethnicity in africa. This book examines the effects of ethnicity on party politics in subsaharan africa. States of violence critical african studies in gender and sexuality ossome, lyn on. Beyond ethnic politics in africa offers a welcome contribution that should be read by scholars of ethnicity, clientelism, and democratization. American politics and the african american quest for. The civil war was neither a onesided slaughter nor a manifestation of intrinsic racial tension. Arriola associate professor, political science, and director, center for african studies, university of california, berkeley.
It makes sense of the diverse political systems that are a feature of africa by using familiar concepts, chapter by chapter, to examine the continent as a whole. The politics of identity and ethnicity are resurgent. Religious differences have not played a major role in ghanaian elections. Over four decades of prodigious research including 25 books and conceptual refinement he helped to make the subfield of black politics an important area of study in political science. An introduction to african politics, this course will provide for its participants a general survey of the main issues. Politics of identity and exclusion in africa konradadenauerstiftung. African americans and political participation a reference handbook. The fourth edition of an introduction to african politics is an ideal textbook for those new to the study of this fascinating continent. Many kenyans thought, perhaps wrongly, that under democracy, there should be competitive politics, that parties would be free to. Ethnicconflict and its manifestations in the politics of recognition in a. Worldview, ethnicity and social dynamics in african politics. It was further stated by the africa research bulletin 1997africa research bulletin.
Institutions and ethnic politics in africa daniel n. Those who prioritize their particular type of identity. According to geertz, it was only in the context of economic and poli tical modemization that ethnicity became a virulent idiom for defen ding particularist interests. He argues that african politics are driven by an economy of affection, whose communal orientation underlies ethnic solidarities. Even if this interest in ethnicity is hostile, it nonetheless underlines. An introduction to african politicsis the ideal textbook for those new to the study of this vast and fascinating continent. The ethnic violence that has marred recent elections in african countries, such as kenya and nigeria, has reinforced the notion that african politics is structured by stringent ethnic logics. A south african explores the madness in his country, his tribe and himself, this book was a bestseller in south africa and elsewhere when it came out in 1990. This book examines the effects of ethnicity on party politics in ten african countries.
In the second part, we will examine the sociopolitical forces such as the state, ethnicity, race, religion, classes and civil society that shape contemporary african politics. Third, we will see that both nationalism and ethnicity in africa share a common origin and focus. This volume, from an africa perspective, examines the relationship between ethnicity and citizenship within the framework of nationstate. Colonialism and economic development in africa leander heldring and james a. Sebastian elischer analyzes political parties in ghana, kenya, and namibia in detail, and provides a preliminary analysis of parties in seven other countries including tanzania, botswana, senegal, zambia, malawi, burkina faso, and benin. Gender, ethnicity, and violence in kenyas transitions to. There is certainly no dearth of studies that examine the nature of ethnicity in colonial and postcolonial africa. The book is aimed at students and scholars of conflict, africa, ethnic politics, and religion. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and cultural values on christian muslim relations in ghana from 1920 through the present.
Project muse institutions and ethnic politics in africa. Popular race and ethnic diversity books showing 6 of 36 race and ethnic relations. The book shows the contradictory relationship between democracy and gendered violence as being largely influenced in the first instance by the capitalist interests vested in the colonial state and its imperative to exploit laboring women. Daniel posners institutions and ethnic politics in africa takes the question of ethnicity in african politics and unpacks the cleavages between ethnolinguistic groups in zambia using a rational choice methodology backed by a probabilistic model of primary actor behavior when choosing members of. Institutions and ethnic politics in africa by daniel n. It may also appeal to religious and political leaders. Understanding the relative divisiveness of ethnicity and religion in african politics thus requires additional study.
In this article we have begun by defining ethnocentrism. In this context, africa has seen its freedom heroes turn into dictators, while plunder of natural resources, politics of exclusion and. According to nnoli 1998, ethnicity in contemporary africa is associated with competition, exclusiveness and conflicts in relations among ethnic groups, which are members of a political community p. American politics and the african american quest for universal freedom book. Ethnicity and democracy in africa ohio university press swallow.
Ethnicity and religion as sources of political division in. Looking at african american history, 152008 hardcover by. Roessler models africas weak, ethnicallydivided states as confronting rulers with a coup. Ethnicity is not and will not been a new concept in the studies of african politics, it has become popular on the continent since the 1990s. It ha s implication r those who want to study further the social effects of health care and bioethic on other racial d ethnic nondominant groups living in the unite d state s seek to acces its. Most of the conflict in africa can be attributed to ethnic group, although they are much more complex and, there are instances, which they are not at all. Ethnicity, violence, and the narrative of genocide. Historically, the study of conflict in africa has focused too narrowly on the politics of class and ethnicity, while neglecting to examine the link between the spread of religion and the evolution of modern political structures. American politics and the african american quest for universal freedom book summary. Its objective and scope engage relational aspects of political integration, awaken public conscience, and motivate civic engagement. Other books in the series alberto alesina and howard rosenthal, partisan politics, divided government, and the economy lee j.
A new york times notable book of the year named one of the best books of the year by the. Elites, the african leaders, the political organizations, lack of reform ownership, the descent into kleptocracy and finally public choice impediments while externally it all boils down to colonialism. It gets to the heart of the politics of this part of the world. Sebastian elischer analyzes political parties in ghana, kenya and namibia in detail, and provides a preliminary analysis of parties in seven other countries including tanzania, botswana, senegal, zambia, malawi, burkina faso and benin.
Daniel posners institutions and ethnic politics in. Politics has become an arena for exercising this rivalry. In the world context, colonialism had very heterogeneous effects, operating through many. It is a mustread for students, scholars, and laymen alike. Ethnicity and multiparty politics in kenya by 1990 when kenyas movement towards democracy had intensified, the ruling party kanu decided to extract political mileage from ethnicity.
In fact, as koter shows in her fine book, the political salience of ethnicity varies enormously within and across african countries. The second edition of an introduction to african politics is a serious attempt to tackle these problems for students and instructors. Political instability in africa where the problem lies and. Tribalism and ethnicity in africa 307 african and asian states, which combines primordialist and historical political arguments has been particularly influential, however. While focusing on politics, this analysis provides insights on the cultural picture in africa. N37,n47,o55 abstract in this paper we evaluate the impact of colonialism on development in subsaharan africa.