National Integration in Guinea-Bissau since Independence

This article explores national integration in Guinea-Bissau since independence in 1974. I argue that the level of national integration is quite strong – despite the ethnic diversity prevalent in the country. As I will show, national integration is due to the ideology and policy of the former indepen...

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Main Author: Christoph Kohl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Universitário de Lisboa 2010-12-01
Series:Cadernos de Estudos Africanos
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/cea/155
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author Christoph Kohl
author_facet Christoph Kohl
author_sort Christoph Kohl
collection DOAJ
description This article explores national integration in Guinea-Bissau since independence in 1974. I argue that the level of national integration is quite strong – despite the ethnic diversity prevalent in the country. As I will show, national integration is due to the ideology and policy of the former independence movement and the early postcolonial state that advocated a national-unity-in-ethnic-diversity-model. Bissau-Guineans know to separate between the state and the nation, a distinction sometimes neglected in analyses. As my findings suggest, Bissau-Guineans victimize their nation while confronting it with the state. A foreign invasion during the 1998-99 Military Conflict fostered national integration even more.
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publisher Instituto Universitário de Lisboa
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spelling doaj-art-6400c48b6532497587a5385caaa89f462025-08-20T02:32:31ZengInstituto Universitário de LisboaCadernos de Estudos Africanos1645-37942182-74002010-12-01208510910.4000/cea.155National Integration in Guinea-Bissau since IndependenceChristoph KohlThis article explores national integration in Guinea-Bissau since independence in 1974. I argue that the level of national integration is quite strong – despite the ethnic diversity prevalent in the country. As I will show, national integration is due to the ideology and policy of the former independence movement and the early postcolonial state that advocated a national-unity-in-ethnic-diversity-model. Bissau-Guineans know to separate between the state and the nation, a distinction sometimes neglected in analyses. As my findings suggest, Bissau-Guineans victimize their nation while confronting it with the state. A foreign invasion during the 1998-99 Military Conflict fostered national integration even more.https://journals.openedition.org/cea/155Guinea-Bissauconflictethnicitynationalismnation-statepostcolonialism
spellingShingle Christoph Kohl
National Integration in Guinea-Bissau since Independence
Cadernos de Estudos Africanos
Guinea-Bissau
conflict
ethnicity
nationalism
nation-state
postcolonialism
title National Integration in Guinea-Bissau since Independence
title_full National Integration in Guinea-Bissau since Independence
title_fullStr National Integration in Guinea-Bissau since Independence
title_full_unstemmed National Integration in Guinea-Bissau since Independence
title_short National Integration in Guinea-Bissau since Independence
title_sort national integration in guinea bissau since independence
topic Guinea-Bissau
conflict
ethnicity
nationalism
nation-state
postcolonialism
url https://journals.openedition.org/cea/155
work_keys_str_mv AT christophkohl nationalintegrationinguineabissausinceindependence