Neoliberal Bandwagonism. Civil society and the politics of belonging in Anglophone Cameroon: Civil Society and the Politics of Belonging in Anglophone CameroonCivil society and empowerment have become buzz words in neoliberal development discourse. Yet many unanswered questions remain on the actual nature and configuration assumed by civil society in specific contexts. Typically, while neoliberals perceive civil-society organisations as vital intermediary channels for the successful implementation of desired economic and political reforms, they are inclined to blame the current resurgence of the politics of belonging for the poor record of these reforms in Africa and elsewhere. This book rejects such notions and argues that the relationship between civil society and the politics of belonging is more complex in Africa than western donors and scholars are willing to admit. Konings argues that ethno-regional associations and movements are even more significant constituents of civil society in Africa than the conventional civil-society organisations that are often uncritically imposed or endorsed. He convincingly shows how the politics of belonging, so pervasive in Cameroon, and indeed much of Africa, during the current neoliberal economic and political reforms, has tended to penetrate the entire range of associational life. This calls for a critical re-appraisal of prevalent notions and assumptions about civil society in the interest of African reality. Hence the importance of this book! |
Contents
1 | |
12 | |
THE 1961 TOMBEL DISTURBANCES | 35 |
4 THE MARANATHA MOVEMENT AND AUTOCHTHONY IN THE SOUTH WEST PROVINCE | 53 |
5 THE ENTRY OF ANGLOPHONE NATIONALISM INTO PUBLIC SPACE | 72 |
6 ANGLOPHONE STUDENTS AND ANGLOPHONE NATIONALIST STRUGGLES | 92 |
7 UNIVERSITY OF BUEA STUDENTS ON STRIKE | 108 |
8 AUTONOMOUS TEACHERS TRADE UNIONISM IN ANGLOPHONE CAMEROON 19591972 | 127 |
9 ANGLOPHONE TEACHERS ORGANISATIONS DURING CAMEROONS POLITICAL LIBERALISATION | 149 |
10 RELATIONS BETWEEN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE STATE IN CAMEROONS POSTCOLONY | 168 |
11 PRIVATISATION AND ETHNOREGIONAL PROTEST IN ANGLOPHONE CAMEROON | 186 |
12 PRIVATISATION AND LABOUR MILITANCY IN ANGLOPHONE CAMEROON | 205 |
OPPORTUNITIES AND CONFLICTS | 220 |
References | 239 |
255 | |
Other editions - View all
Neoliberal Bandwagonism. Civil society and the politics of belonging in ... Piet Konings Limited preview - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
actions African Ahidjo Anglo Anglophone Cameroon Anglophone Cameroonian Anglophone identity Anglophone movements Anglophone students associations autochthonous Bakossi Bakweri Bamenda Bamileke Bamileke settlers became Beti Bishop Awa BLCC Bonjongo Brobon Finex Buea Catholic CATTU church civil society civil-society organisations colonial conditions of service conflict CPDM created December diocese domination Douala educational elections ethno-regional Father Etienne FCFA federal forces Francophone Cameroon Francophone-dominated GCE Board Grassfields Igbo independence KNDP Konings & Nyamnjoh Kumba labour land leadership Maranatha movement ment Musonge nationalist negotiations Nigerian Nigerian migrants North West Pamol party Paul Biya Peter Mafany Musonge political liberalisation Post post-colonial PRESBY priest privatisation protest RCC leaders regime regional reunification role SCNC SCYL Senior District Officer South West Province Southern Cameroonian Southern Cameroons southwestern strike strike action territory tion Tole Tea Estate Tombel area Tombel Disturbances trade unions UBSU University of Yaoundé WESCUT workers