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Divine mandates and political realities: exploring power, religion, and transition in The Gambia
[journal article]
Abstract This article analyses the role of religious symbolism and religiosity during The Gambia’s autocracy (1994-2017) and its democratic transition (2017-2023). Former autocratic ruler, Yahya Jammeh, exploited religious symbolism to legitimise his authority, leading to crackdowns, extrajudicial punishment... view more
This article analyses the role of religious symbolism and religiosity during The Gambia’s autocracy (1994-2017) and its democratic transition (2017-2023). Former autocratic ruler, Yahya Jammeh, exploited religious symbolism to legitimise his authority, leading to crackdowns, extrajudicial punishment, and political repression. Drawing on community engagements and interviews with 61 civil-society members, political actors, community stakeholders, and girls in rural and urban areas across The Gambia's West Coast Region, the findings highlight the influence of cultural and value systems, particularly the intersection of religion and politics, in shaping the country's autocracy. Exploring some of the nuances of religious ideology and religious symbols concerning the state, The Gambia's political history allows for deeper examinations of power dynamics within the broader cultural and societal context. By adopting a multidimensional perspective of power that incorporates religion, cultural values, and ethnic dimensions, this article offers new perspectives for analysing power structures and transformations in diverse socio-political settings.... view less
Keywords
Gambia; religion; authoritarian system; securing of power; democratization; West Africa
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Free Keywords
Ideologie; Jammeh; Machtstruktur; Politische Macht; Politisches System; Religiöse Symbole; Rolle; Staatsoberhaupt; Wechselbeziehungen Religion und Politik; Übergang zwischen politischen Systemen
Document language
English
Publication Year
2024
Page/Pages
p. 49-68
Journal
Africa Spectrum, 59 (2024) 1
ISSN
1868-6869
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed