Mediating ethnic conflict at the grassroots

The role of local associational life in shaping political values in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4252136
AutoresLauren M Maclean (0000-0002-0580-242X, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, autor correspondente)
Ano2004
Volume42
Fascículo4
Páginas589-617
Data de publicação2004-12-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoThe Journal of Modern African Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0022-278X • E-ISSN: 1469-7777
EditoraCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0022278x04000412
OpenAlexW2166018992
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas13

This article attempts to understand why ethnic-regional civil war has challenged the national unity of Côte d'Ivoire and not Ghana, two neighbouring countries with nearly identical ethnic, religious and regional divisions, by examining politics at the grassroots. Based on a carefully controlled comparison of two similar regions of Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, the study investigates how participation in local voluntary associations reinforces the local experience of the state to shape the ongoing development of political values and affect the prospects for ethnic peace and democracy. The article finds that participation in ethnically heterogeneous voluntary associations does not necessarily promote democratic values and practice. In fact, in Côte d'Ivoire, participation in ethnically heterogeneous cocoa producer and mutual assistance organisations reinforces vertical patronage networks based on narrower ethnic identities. In contrast, in Ghana, participation in more ethnically homogeneous local church groups encourages the development of democratic values and practices at the local level that mediate the potential for ethnic conflict and support the consolidation of a democratic regime

Civil society · Cote d ivoire · Democracy · Democratic consolidation · Democratization · Development economics · Economics · Ethnic conflict · Ethnic group · Ethnically diverse · Grassroots · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Voluntary association · African history and culture studies · Agriculture and Rural Development Research · Cocoa and Sweet Potato Agronomy · Gender Studies · Law