Identity, Citizenship, and Political Conflict in Africa

by Edmond J. Keller

Overview

Reflecting on the processes of nation-building and citizenship formation in Africa, Edmond J. Keller believes that although some deep parochial identities have eroded, they have not disappeared and may be more assertive than previously thought, especially in instances of political conflict. Keller reconsiders how national identity has been understood in Africa and presents new approaches to identity politics, intergroup relations, state-society relations, and notions of national citizenship and citizenship rights. Focusing on Nigeria, Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, and Rwanda, he lays the foundation for a new understanding of political transition in contemporary Africa.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253011848
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	03/19/2014
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Edmond J. Keller is Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is author of Revolutionary Ethiopia: From Empire to People's Republic (IUP, 1988) and "Trustee for the Human Community": Ralph Bunche and the Decolonization of Africa.

Table of Contents

Preface
Part I. Citizenship and Political Conflict in Contemporary Africa
1. Identity, Citizenship, and Nation Building in Africa
2. Theoretical and Formal-Legal Dimensions of the Concept of Citizenship in Africa
3. Toward an Analytical Framework of Identity and Citizenship in Africa

Part II. Identity Politics and Selected Cases in Conflict over Citizenship Rights in Africa
4. Nigeria: Indigeneity and Citizenship
5. Ethiopia: The Politics of Late Nation Building and the National Question
6. Côte d'Ivoire: Ivorité and Citizenship
7. Kenya: Citizenship, Land, and Ethnic Cleansing
8. Rwanda: Exclusionary Nationalism, Democracy, and Genocide
Summary and Conclusion: Identity, Citizenship, and Social Conflict

Notes
References
Index

What People are Saying About This

Universityof Wisconsin, Madison - M. Crawford Young

Clear and lucid. . . . Offers a promising design for careful comparative exploration of a core issue confronting contemporary Africa—the definition of citizenship as a legal and moral issue in a political environment where in most states ethnic attachment coexists with national identity.

Universityof North Carolina, Chapel Hill - Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja

By interrogating theories of citizenship and by looking at the citizenship question in Africa within a historical and comparative perspective, Edmond J. Keller enhances the debate on citizenship and democratization in political science in general, and with respect to African politics in particular.

Editorial Reviews

"Keller shows a strong understanding of the political dynamics at play in the discourse around identity and citizenship in Africa. He does not declare a one-size-fit-all attitude in his analysis of the various countries used as case studies. By consciously declaring that there is no one way to read civil conflict in modern Africa, he makes the book an obvious work in progress. This is welcomed given the complex nature of various African nation states. I find the book to be incisive in analysis and critical to the issues of identity and citizenship in Africa. It potentially forms a significant text for scholars and students of African conflict studies. For ordinary readers, the work is engaging and detailed with current information about the situation in many African countries."—African Studies Quarterly

"Most certainly, Identity, Citizenship, and Political Conflict in Africa is a useful publication, which contributes to the disciplines of African studies, history, and politics and should benefit students, general readers, and scholars with interdisciplinary academic interests."—Africa Today

"This book would certainly be useful in graduate seminars on African politics, African history or ethnic politics. It is written in a clear, straightforward style that also makes it appropriate for use in advanced undergraduate classes. Keller also offers insights for policymakers and development practitioners who continue to grapple with the real-world consequences of citizenship conflicts."—Journal of Modern African Studies

"Keller has written an impressive and path-breaking book in African politics that can be useful by upper-level undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in African studies."—African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review

"Altogether, this book offers a fine survey of the essential question of citizenship in Africa, one that will be of particular value to those without prior exposure to the scholarship on the topic. It is also a fitting testimony to a rich academic career."—Perspectives on Politics

"By interrogating theories of citizenship and by looking at the citizenship question in Africa within a historical and comparative perspective, Edmond J. Keller enhances the debate on citizenship and democratization in political science in general, and with respect to African politics in particular."—Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

"Clear and lucid. . . . Offers a promising design for careful comparative exploration of a core issue confronting contemporary Africa—the definition of citizenship as a legal and moral issue in a political environment where in most states ethnic attachment coexists with national identity."—M. Crawford Young, University of Wisconsin, Madison

From the Publisher

Keller has written an impressive and path-breaking book in African politics that can be useful by upper-level undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in African studies.

African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review

Most certainly, Identity, Citizenship, and Political Conflict in Africa is a useful publication, which contributes to the disciplines of African studies, history, and politics and should benefit students, general readers, and scholars with interdisciplinary academic interests.

Africa Today

Keller shows a strong understanding of the political dynamics at play in the discourse around identity and citizenship in Africa. He does not declare a one-size-fit-all attitude in his analysis of the various countries used as case studies. By consciously declaring that there is no one way to read civil conflict in modern Africa, he makes the book an obvious work in progress. This is welcomed given the complex nature of various African nation states. I find the book to be incisive in analysis and critical to the issues of identity and citizenship in Africa. It potentially forms a significant text for scholars and students of African conflict studies. For ordinary readers, the work is engaging and detailed with current information about the situation in many African countries.

African Studies Quarterly

Altogether, this book offers a fine survey of the essential question of citizenship in Africa, one that will be of particular value to those without prior exposure to the scholarship on the topic. It is also a fitting testimony to a rich academic career.

Perspectives on Politics

This book would certainly be useful in graduate seminars on African politics, African history or ethnic politics. It is written in a clear, straightforward style that also makes it appropriate for use in advanced undergraduate classes. Keller also offers insights for policymakers and development practitioners who continue to grapple with the real-world consequences of citizenship conflicts.

Journal of Modern African Studies

"By interrogating theories of citizenship and by looking at the citizenship question in Africa within a historical and comparative perspective, Edmond J. Keller enhances the debate on citizenship and democratization in political science in general, and with respect to African politics in particular." —Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja

"Clear and lucid.... Offers a promising design for careful comparative exploration of a core issue confronting contemporary Africa—the definition of citizenship as a legal and moral issue in a political environment where in most states ethnic attachment coexists with national identity." —M. Crawford Young, University of Wisconsin, Madison

M. Crawford Young