L'afrique au prisme de l'ethnicité : Perception française et actualité du débat

Abstract

Ethnicity is frequently seen negatively in France even though the concept of nation is highly present in it. The former would refer to cultural and blood links whereas the latter refers to an imaginative community based on political links and on a social contract. This perspective on ethnicity has influenced decisively the colonial policy of France in the building up of relations to the Other and in determining its perspective on Africa. However, is ethnicity the sole prism used to understand the political field in Africa, and does it account for everything ? Can its analysis be separated from the other dynamics which are at work in African society ? How is one to interpret the recurrence in changing political situations the continent has witnessed for ten years ? One can argue ethnicity is a legitimate method of political participation and access to the public space. In other words, its predominance would not automatically be incompatible with the rooting of democracy as an idea and as a political system.