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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:'We are all Zanzibari!': identity formation and political reconciliation in Zanzibar
Authors:Moss, Sigrun Marie
Tronvoll, KjetilISNI
Year:2015
Periodical:Journal of Eastern African Studies (ISSN 1753-1063)
Volume:9
Issue:1
Pages:91-109
Language:English
Geographic terms:Tanzania
Zanzibar
Subjects:political conflicts
conflict resolution
group identity
2009
2010
External link:https://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2014.985357
Abstract:Zanzibari social relations were long characterised by disruption and antagonism around election time, between followers of the incumbent Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and opposition party Civic United Front (CUF). In November 2009, with a top-level political meeting between the leaders of CUF and CCM, this started to change. Based on field interviews and observations, this article argues that Zanzibari politics over the period from July 2009 to November 2010 moved from a hostile and polarised political environment, via a limbo period, to a widely supported reconciliation process, and that over these three phases, intergroup relations changed. Using social identity theory, the authors argue that the shared Zanzibari identity increased in salience, and intergroup animosity decreased, a process likened to the social psychological dual recategorisation. Second, reasons for this change in intergroup relations are discussed, comparing this recent process to former failed peace processes, stressing shared goals, intergroup communalities, leadership dialogue and cooperation, and focus on the superordinate identity. The material demonstrates that elite-led political discourse can increase or decrease political tension and thus initiate social identity transformation. The authors argue that this process further created room for the peaceful 2010 elections and the establishment of the current Zanzibar Government of National Unity. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]
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