Samenvatting
This paper focuses on interactions between regional elites and their ethnic community in a context of multi-party democracy in the D. R. Congo.
The colonial industry in Katanga caused migration from rural areas toward the cities, where ethnic associations were founded to organize mutual aid among migrants from the same region and to safeguard the common cultural patrimony. Since the restart of the democratization process ethnic associations seem to prioritize politics over socio-cultural engagement, and elites use them to achieve political goals. In the context of a weak state, leaders of ethnic associations deem it indispensable to be represented as an ethnic group in governments and public bodies: elites holding responsible positions are supposed to comply with the moral obligation to support their ethnic community. Elections offer new opportunities as it is assumed that elected elites will use their political influence to create jobs for their ethnic group or to bring infrastructure to their region of origin.
Our field research in Katanga shows that in a premature multiparty system politicians try to use ethnic associations as mobilization instruments to gain ethnic votes, and reveals different strategies applied by these organizations to influence the outcome of elections. The paper also argues that citizens can use their votes independently to punish politicians of their ethnic group for not delivering on promises about defending the community’s interests.
The colonial industry in Katanga caused migration from rural areas toward the cities, where ethnic associations were founded to organize mutual aid among migrants from the same region and to safeguard the common cultural patrimony. Since the restart of the democratization process ethnic associations seem to prioritize politics over socio-cultural engagement, and elites use them to achieve political goals. In the context of a weak state, leaders of ethnic associations deem it indispensable to be represented as an ethnic group in governments and public bodies: elites holding responsible positions are supposed to comply with the moral obligation to support their ethnic community. Elections offer new opportunities as it is assumed that elected elites will use their political influence to create jobs for their ethnic group or to bring infrastructure to their region of origin.
Our field research in Katanga shows that in a premature multiparty system politicians try to use ethnic associations as mobilization instruments to gain ethnic votes, and reveals different strategies applied by these organizations to influence the outcome of elections. The paper also argues that citizens can use their votes independently to punish politicians of their ethnic group for not delivering on promises about defending the community’s interests.
| Originele taal-2 | English |
|---|---|
| Titel | Paper presented at the 6th European Conference on African Studies, Paris, France, July 2015 |
| Status | Published - 2015 |
| Evenement | 6th European Conference on African Studies - Paris, France Duur: 8 jul 2015 → 10 jul 2015 |
Conference
| Conference | 6th European Conference on African Studies |
|---|---|
| Land/Regio | France |
| Stad | Paris |
| Periode | 8/07/15 → 10/07/15 |