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Title
Peace as societal transformation: intergenerational power-struggles and the role of youth in post-conflict Sierra Leone |
Date
2012 |
Author(s)
Boersch-Supan, Johanna; Soares de Oliveira, Ricardo |
Abstract
Intergenerational solidarity and reciprocity are fundamental building blocks of any society. At the same time, socio-generational groups constantly struggle for influence and authority. In Sub-Saharan Africa, disproportionately male, gerontocratic and patrimonial systems governing economic, social and political life lend a special explosiveness to the social cleavage of generation. This dissertation draws on the concept of the generational contract to explore whether Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war (1991-2001) - labelled a 'revolt of youth' - catalysed changes in the power-asymmetries between age groups. Based on fieldwork conducted between 2007 and 2010, I argue that youth in post-war Sierra Leone question fundamental norms of intergenerational relations and challenge local governance structures demanding changes to the generational contract. Amidst a strong continuity of gerontocratic dominance and counter-strategies from elders, youth draw on organisational forms and a local rights discourse to create spaces for contestation and negotiation. These openings hold potential for long-term rearrangements of societal relations in the medium to long-term future. - This thesis is not currently available via ORA. |
Subject(s)
Rights (development); Human rights; Local Government; Governance in Africa; Social Inequality; Children and youth; Intergenerational relationships; Social mobility; Social status; Social cleavages; Africa; conflict; integration; Rights (development); human rights; local government; governance in Africa; social inequality; children and youth; intergenerational relationships; social mobility; social status; social cleavages; history of Africa; Africa |
Language
en |
Type of publication
text; thesis |
Format
born digital |
Identifier
ora:6830; urn:uuid:19e1c5d6-e910-4a0e-b7be-f66b19d988be |
Repository
Oxford - Research Archive, University of Oxford
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Added to C-A: 2014-01-15;09:40:05 |
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