DySoMa · The Dynamics of Solidarity on Madagascar: An Ethnography of Political Conflicts and Appeasement Strategies in the Context of a Pronounced Consens Norm
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2016-11-01 → 2020-01-03
- EU contribution
- €236,210
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-GF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
The Dynamics of Solidarity on Madagascar: An Ethnography of Political Conflicts and Appeasement Strategies in the Context of a Pronounced Consens Norm
The scientific challenge set up by the project was to understand and explain the bias toward non-violence on the island of Madagascar since the 20th century. This hitherto overlooked turn from war to peace constitutes a marked contrast to theories on the origins of disorder in sub-Saharan African countries since Independence, and to current theories of war and conflict solution. The research aimed to explore the theoretically productive Malagasy “success story” for a critical investigations into explanations of conflict solution processes adding to the challenge to “Secure Societies” and to the managing of social crisis affecting “Europe in a changing world,” two priorities defined by the European Union. The particularities of the Malagasy turn from war to peace, it was elaborated as a main result, should be understood, quite surprisingly, as the involuntary side-effect of a new kind of valorization of what became perceived during 20th century as “old” or traditional, truly Malagasy values, including the normativity of “Malagasy solidarity” (fihavanana) – and not resulting in a conscious movement towards peace. An important conclusion became possible: The decision to engage or not engage into a cycle of mounting violence is not just the inevitable or automatic outcome of external conditions, but should be related to basic, interiorized norms and social practices.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The aim of this anthropological research project is to improve understanding of the peace-making processes operating in the ongoing Malagasy political crisis. A dispute in 2009 over the Malagasy presidency, the most powerful political position on the island, marked the beginning of a particularly difficult period. At first tensions were limited to the national political level, but the situation rapidly degenerated into a more general social crisis as international support was suspended, the economy plummeted down and the population of about 22 million had to cope with great insecurity.In this period of acute risk to social order a number of unusual conflict resolution strategies were adopted independently. Alongside the official, internationally brokered negotiations, there were a number of distinctive, local mechanisms which had a clear, positive impact on the situation. The innovative institutional embodiment of a local concept of solidarity rooted in traditional ancestor worship (fihavanana) and popular justice movements led by charismatic personalities were amongst the most important in paving the way for conflict resolution and a new beginning for Madagascar.The rarity of such successful conflict resolution in post-colonial contexts arouses curiosity and demands close evaluation. An attractive scientific challenge is triggered, offering a unique opportunity to devise an ethnography of de-escalation and peace which will stand in contrast to the conventional focus on war and disorder. Anthropological fieldwork in Antananarivo (the Madagascan capital) and the Western Melaky region as well as historical research will furnish qualitative evidence for an insightful interpretation of the unique dynamics of solidarity observed.The project will contribute to a better understanding of the recent Malagasy crisis but will also provide an important case study of theoretical and practical relevance to political anthropology and international peace-building initiatives.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- MARTIN-LUTHER-UNIVERSITAT HALLE-WITTENBERG · HalleCoordinatorGermany
- UNIVERSITY OF ANTANANARIVO · AntananarivoMadagascar
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union