Linking the future to the past

Ethnicity and pluralism

Bibliographic Data

ID11904481
AuthorsMartin Doornbos (Instituto de Estudios Sociales, corresponding author)
Year1991
Volume18
Issue52
Publication date1991-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReview of African Political Economy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0305-6244 • E-ISSN: 1740-1720
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03056249108703921
OpenAlexW1966845689
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited9

The concept of ethnicity has a long and controversial history. As political ‘liberalisation’ transforms contemporary African states and their relationship with ‘civil society’, questions of ethnicity have new urgency and relevance, although some of the ‘questions’ being asked—such as ‘will there be a resurgence of tribalism'—themselves require analysis. Ethnicity, as a distinctive set of beliefs and practices, does not explain anything; it needs to be explained. It does not exist independently but derives its significance from the complex social reality from which it emerges. A consideration of ethnicity in its social and historical context obliges us to recognise both the relevance of cultural forms, and their trivialisation hitherto, in political theory and practice. Doornbos considers the various social structures and dynamics — both actual and potential — that are likely to encourage, or discourage, ethnic politics in contemporary Africa. A key question now is to what extent ethnicity may provide a basis for future, relatively autonomous socio‐political organisation and alternative development strategies. Ethnic identity and ethnic politics are malleable and multivalent. Doornbos contrasts ‘liberation ethnicity’ with fundamentalist or ‘chauvinist’ ethnicity but warns that such distinctions are problematic, given the fluidity of ethnicity. As with nationalism, what may emerge as populist, progressive forces may come to represent narrow, conservative tendencies. Ethnicity provides an attractive but arguably unsafe foundation for progressive politics

Epistemology · Ethnic group · Nationalism · Pluralism (philosophy · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Relevance (law · Sociology · Tribalism · African history and culture studies · Anthropology · Gender Studies · Law · Multilingual Education and Policy · Second Language Learning and Teaching