Power, Politics, and the Supernatural

Exploring the Role of Witchcraft Beliefs in Governance for Development

Bibliographic Data

ID7214178
AuthorsJohanna Sofia Adolfsson (0000-0002-0503-9102, Centre for Development and the Environment, Universit of Oslo, Oslo, Norway, corresponding author), Dan Banik (0000-0002-1797-3445, Centre for Development and the Environment, Universit of Oslo, Oslo, Norway), Boniface Dulani (0000-0002-0281-3000, University of Malawi)
Year2024
Volume51
Issue3
Pages389-410
Publication date2024-08-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueForum for Development Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0803-9410 • E-ISSN: 1891-1765
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/08039410.2024.2374707
OpenAlexW4401345343
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited48

Belief in evil and hidden supernatural forces, generally referred to as witchcraft, is widespread in many parts of the African continent. In addition to affecting individual health, perceived security, and social relations, witchcraft allegations may be used as covert political instruments, resulting in governance challenges such as lack of trust, transparency, administrative delegation, and political accountability. Since witchcraft is commonly associated with physiological and psychological violence, some citizens may be less willing to participate in political activities, including seeking elected office or criticizing political elites for fear of falling victim to witchcraft. The focus of our study is Malawi where large groups in the population believe in the power of witchcraft. We aim to unpack how local witchcraft beliefs have a bearing on governance – whether, and the extent to which, witchcraft influences how citizens understand and practice transparency and accountability in everyday life. Particularly, the belief in witchcraft among Malawian elites' warrants closer scrutiny, especially since existing literature and local discourse on the impact of witchcraft tend to largely focus on rural and less educated groups in the population. As the highly secret and complex dimensions of witchcraft resist clear-cut definitions, representations, and analysis, it is not our intention to describe witchcraft in everyday life. Rather, we explore the potential political implications of not addressing elite discourses of and belief in witchcraft. We find that belief in witchcraft can influence citizens' perceptions of power and authority and can potentially undermine the legitimacy of democratic institutions and processes

Accountability · Corporate governance · Covert · Elite · Legitimacy · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Population · Power (physics · Scrutiny · Sociology · Transparency (behavior · African studies and sociopolitical issues · Anthropological Studies and Insights · Law · Religion, Society, and Development