Economic Development Strategies and Communal Violence in Africa: The Cases of Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. (February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McCauley, John F.
• Is Part Of: Comparative political studies. Volume 46:Number 2(2013)
• Page Start: 182
• Page End: 211
• Publication Date: 2013-02
• Subjects: economic development -- conflict -- Côte d'Ivoire -- Ghana -- ascriptive identity -- overlapping cleavages; Political science -- Periodicals; 320.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0010414012453034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-4140

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between economic development strategies and conflict outcomes in Africa, using a comparison of Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Findings suggest that development strategies that create contestation for resources along identity group lines, absent provisions for co-opting disenfranchised groups, increase the likelihood of communal violence, whereas development plans that transcend ascriptive social identities bear the greatest chance of generating long-term peace, irrespective of their short-term economic success. The author complements the comparative case study with evidence of intracase variation in Ghana and with original micro-level data collected in 2009.