Consenso di Irmandade: Reading Bissau-Guinean Political Thought on Community and Consensus
In: Comparative Political TheorySearch for other papers by Claudia Favarato in
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Abstract
This paper explores the political thought of Guinea-Bissau, focusing on the endogenous notions of community and consensus. The analysis turns on discerning the principles underpinning political power and power relations in the organicist setting. The paper considers the indigenous polity and its underlying tenets, by unveiling the centrality of the past, land (tchon), and kinship (djorson) in conceptualizations of the political community. These determine a polity ruled by participatory politics and “brotherhood consensus” (consenso di irmandade, in local creole). As this notion of “brotherhood” is tightly linked to the foundations of the political community, the Bissau-Guinean polity pins consensual politics to ontology. This ontological basis fosters commitment to engage in and reach consensus.
This analysis adds to studies on African political thought and theories of consensual democracy. Moreover, the insights offered, however spatial-specific, exemplify the potential of renewed analysis of notions of the political community in Africa and beyond, enriching the repertoire of political theory research.
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Consenso di Irmandade: Reading Bissau-Guinean Political Thought on Community and Consensus
In: Comparative Political TheorySearch for other papers by Claudia Favarato in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
This paper explores the political thought of Guinea-Bissau, focusing on the endogenous notions of community and consensus. The analysis turns on discerning the principles underpinning political power and power relations in the organicist setting. The paper considers the indigenous polity and its underlying tenets, by unveiling the centrality of the past, land (tchon), and kinship (djorson) in conceptualizations of the political community. These determine a polity ruled by participatory politics and “brotherhood consensus” (consenso di irmandade, in local creole). As this notion of “brotherhood” is tightly linked to the foundations of the political community, the Bissau-Guinean polity pins consensual politics to ontology. This ontological basis fosters commitment to engage in and reach consensus.
This analysis adds to studies on African political thought and theories of consensual democracy. Moreover, the insights offered, however spatial-specific, exemplify the potential of renewed analysis of notions of the political community in Africa and beyond, enriching the repertoire of political theory research.
| All Time | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 199 | 52 | 3 |
| Full Text Views | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 43 | 5 | 0 |