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Nationalism Versus Ethnic Identity in Sub-Saharan Africa

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  • Miles, William F. S.
  • Rochefort, David A.

Abstract

Part and parcel of the conventional wisdom about rural publics in Africa is that populations on the periphery will accord ethnic solidarity greater significance than national consciousness. A survey of neighboring Hausa villages on different sides of the Niger-Nigeria boundary counters this myth. Probing issues of self-identity and ethnic affinity, we found that most Hausa villagers on the frontier did not place their Hausan ethnic identity above their national one as citizens of Nigeria or Niger and expressed greater affinity for non-Hausa cocitizens than for foreign Hausas. However, expressed attachments to ethnic, national, and other social identifications (such as religion) varied according to village: citizenship does make a difference in the political consciousness of villagers on the geographic margins of the state. More survey research in other transborder regions should shed further light on processes of state penetration and national integration in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Miles, William F. S. & Rochefort, David A., 1991. "Nationalism Versus Ethnic Identity in Sub-Saharan Africa," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 85(2), pages 393-403, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:85:y:1991:i:02:p:393-403_17
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    Cited by:

    1. Babajide, Adedoyin & Ahmad, Ahmad Hassan & Coleman, Simeon, 2021. "Violent conflicts and state capacity: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Government and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(C).
    2. Samuel Bazzi & Arya Gaduh & Alexander D. Rothenberg & Maisy Wong, 2019. "Unity in Diversity? How Intergroup Contact Can Foster Nation Building," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(11), pages 3978-4025, November.
    3. McNamee, Lachlan, 2019. "Indirect colonial rule and the salience of ethnicity," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 142-156.
    4. Fabien Candau & Tchapo Gbandi & Geoffroy Guepie, 2022. "Beyond the income effect of international trade on ethnic wars in Africa," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 517-534, July.
    5. Kenneth Harttgen & Matthias Opfinger, 2014. "National Identity and Religious Diversity," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 67(3), pages 346-367, August.
    6. David Carment & Patrick James, 1995. "Internal Constraints and Interstate Ethnic Conflict," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 39(1), pages 82-109, March.
    7. Harttgen, Kenneth & Opfinger, Matthias, 2012. "In the Nation We Trust: National Identity as a Substitute for Religion," AICCON Working Papers 107-2012, Associazione Italiana per la Cultura della Cooperazione e del Non Profit.
    8. Crespin-Boucaud, Juliette, 2020. "Interethnic and interfaith marriages in sub-Saharan Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    9. Salmon-Letelier, Marlana, 2022. "The shaping of national identity in diverse Nigerian secondary schools," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).

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