Ideologies play a key role in the maintenance of inequality. Yet, as the case of the Franco-Mauri... more Ideologies play a key role in the maintenance of inequality. Yet, as the case of the Franco-Mauritians, the white elite of Mauritius, shows, ideologies are also often challenged. Following struggles between elites and other social groups, 'new' ideologies may even emerge. A closer look at the transition from the colonial to postcolonial period in Mauritius provides relevant insights into the dynamics of such struggles, including how, in ambiguous ways, outcomes may foster the maintenance of inequality. It shows that the emergence of multiculturalism as an ideology enhanced (political) equality, yet also allowed Franco-Mauritians to maintain their wealth base RÉSUMÉ Les idéologies jouent un rôle crucial dans le maintien des inégalités. Cependant, comme le démontre le cas des Franco-Mauriciens, les élites blanches de l'Île Maurice, ces idéologies sont aussi souvent remises en question. De « nouvelles » idéologies peuvent même émerger à la suite de conflits entre les élites et d'autres groupes sociaux. Une étude plus approfondie de la transition de la période coloniale à la période post-coloniale sur l'Île Maurice offre des perspectives intéressantes sur les dynamiques de tels conflits, telles que la manière dont, de façon souvent ambigüe, leurs conséquences peuvent faciliter le maintien des inégalités. Cet article démontre que l'émergence du multiculturalisme comme idéologie a permis une amélioration de l'égalité (politique); cependant, elle a également permis aux Franco-Mauriciens de consolider leur niveau de richesse.
Like many other examples of the ongoing global land rush, a large Zambian land deal initiated by ... more Like many other examples of the ongoing global land rush, a large Zambian land deal initiated by a European agribusiness in 2012 was met with cries of alarm from international critics about the amount of land purchased and the negative impact the investment could have on local residents. The agribusiness, however, responded relatively quickly. Not only did this initially contribute to protecting the position of (affected) residents, but it also enhanced the image of the agribusiness as a corporation willing to listen to concerns. As with land deals elsewhere, though, the situation looks much different ten years on, with the project not living up to its promises, either financially or regarding rural residents. To better understand these discrepancies, a closer look at various temporalities together is revealingimportantly, as others have discussed, because tensions between temporal dimensions of finance and agriculture frequently affect land deals. But simultaneously, as the Zambian case demonstrates, (international) critics, such as advocacy groups, NGOs, and media, operate according to particular temporal dynamicswith attention devoted to the investment fluctuating over timewhile (local) stakeholders, including neighbouring rural residents and state institutions refraining from enforcing the agribusiness to honour agreements along the line, also affect developments. Through analysing these temporalities over an extended period of time, this article aims to contribute to an understanding of challenges involved in holding land deals to account. Accordingly, broader lessons can be drawn about the ambiguous potential for mitigating negative effects of large-scale land acquisitionsand corporate practices more generally.
From 2011 onward, a European agribusiness progressively purchased about 38,000 hectares of land i... more From 2011 onward, a European agribusiness progressively purchased about 38,000 hectares of land in Zambia. Although operations have commenced on the ground, only part of the land has been developed. Salverda and Nkonde look at the
Elite culture has often been associated with high culture, and in opposition to low culture. Toda... more Elite culture has often been associated with high culture, and in opposition to low culture. Today, this distinction is less evident. However, elites' cultural practices, events, and status symbols remain of importance to the understanding of power in society. Yet, for a better understanding of elites' efforts to shape exclusive cultural environments and distinguish themselves from other social groups, their cultural occurrences should be understood in relation to their paradoxical interactions with other social groups.
Focaal: Journal of Global and Historical Anthropology, 2020
Th is article addresses the relevance of the moral economy concept in light of unequal socioecono... more Th is article addresses the relevance of the moral economy concept in light of unequal socioeconomic relations between a European agribusiness and rural residents in Zambia. It argues that the moral economy concept off ers a helpful heuristic device for analyzing how relationships are constituted, negotiated, and contested among interdependent actors with "opposing" socioeconomic interests. To explain the dynamics of their relationships, however, the moral economy concept has to extend beyond its usual, spatially restricted (i.e., local) focus. Instead , "external, " distant, non-local actors, such as foreign critics concerned about "land grabbing, " also infl uence the local character of moral-economic exchanges between the agribusiness and rural residents. Hence, the article proposes a multi-scalar perspective to account for the infl uence of a wider array of actors.
This article explores different ways to interpret the extent to which (capitalist) critique influ... more This article explores different ways to interpret the extent to which (capitalist) critique influences corporate practice. Starting from (self-) reflection upon negotiations between the author and a European company involved in land-based investment in Zambia, this contribution shows that corporate actors may be more responsive to their critics, such as NGOs, journalists, local communities, and (activist) scholars, than often assumed. It may be argued that anthropology partly misses this dynamic, due to its limited interest in ethnographic engagement with the powerful and its critical interpretations of capitalism. At the same time, with persistent unequal corporate advantages and wrongdoing, critical interpretations remain of significant relevance to understanding the limits of corporate responses. Reflecting on the balance between these different interpretations, the article aims to discuss the intricacies of analyzing and critiquing corporate practices.
Water connects. It brings people together, in collaboration as much as in conflict. Oceans have f... more Water connects. It brings people together, in collaboration as much as in conflict. Oceans have facilitated colonial expansion, slave trade and globalisation. Rivers have been arteries for the spread of people and ideas, and have fuelled upstream-downstream struggles. Water supply and sewage systems reflect the political differentials of (dis)connected households. And wells and springs draw thirsty travellers, animals and pilgrims together.
This contribution analyses how corporations involved in large-scale land acquisition respond to a... more This contribution analyses how corporations involved in large-scale land acquisition respond to a countermovement of critics such as non-governmental organisations, local communities, peasant movements, scholars and journalists. Though the countermovement rightly receives much attention, its impact on corporations/investors is less discussed. International guidelines and corporate pledges to ban ‘land grabbing’ in their operations, however, may be signs that critics have some influence. Yet by no means has this proven to be sufficient. Starting from a study of a European agribusiness operating in Zambia, this paper aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the extent to which corporations are susceptible to a countermovement.
Anthropology tends not to be associated with the study of elites, notwithstanding that investigat... more Anthropology tends not to be associated with the study of elites, notwithstanding that investigating elites ethnographically has much to contribute to our understanding of power. To facilitate this pursuit, however, a good understanding of who can be defi ned as members of an elite is helpful. A narrow group of only those persons directly in command, or a wider group including, for example, the elite's family members? By means of investigating the Franco-Mauritians, the white elite of the island of Mauritius, this article aims to explain why it matters to pay attention to the diff erences between narrower and broader defi nitions.
In this article we explore the often ambiguous relations between elites and other social groups, ... more In this article we explore the often ambiguous relations between elites and other social groups, both subordinate and of relatively equal standing. The article draws on two distinctive ethnographic cases: the white Franco-Mauritian elite, and the expert elite of management consultants in a Western European context. Our analysis of the two cases provides insights into how the power and status of elites is both contested and attributed by the people they interact with and relate to in concrete, yet substantially different contexts and situations. The aim is to show how the position and power of different kinds of elites is relationally negotiated and achieved. As we argue, a better understanding of the role of other social groups in the attribution, maintenance and contestation of status is relevant for understanding both more traditional economic elites and expert elites without tight networks.
In a pessimistic – or realistic – mood, it is hard to deny that the world’s future looks rather grim: growing inequality appears difficult to undo; the financial system has hardly become safer since the 2007/2008 crisis; and the rising power of BRICS and other Global South economies tends to rely on conventional economic and ecologically destructive growth models. At the same time, and nurturing a more positive mood, we are increasingly witnessing efforts to turn the tide of the current economic predicament: more inclusive forms of capitalism; ethical consumption; and alternative approaches to economic growth.
In this issue of Voices from Around the World we present a number of thoughts on alternatives to current forms of global capitalism, and considerations as to whether and how these may evolve. Increasingly we understand that existing economic orthodoxy does not offer a sufficient understanding of, or solutions to, the challenges we face. Even mainstream thinkers realise that current economic models have a variety of destructive tendencies, particularly regarding inequality, resource depletion, pollution and so forth. ...
Increased mobility and migration in a globalized world have led to the rise of multilingualism in... more Increased mobility and migration in a globalized world have led to the rise of multilingualism in the Global North, especially in urban areas. This increase of languages has led to a range of new studies of and perspectives on (urban) multilingualism. In the Global South, on the contrary, multilingualism has been part of the linguistic reality of people in the majority of societies for ages. In many parts of the South it is nothing new. Yet the linguistic environments and the social practices involving languages and policies are very diverse. And, of course, the picture gets more complicated as the Global South also exists in the Global North and vice versa.
What does it mean to speak more than one language and to live in a multilingual society? How do people cope with and use linguistic diversity? How do societies deal with multilingualism on institutional levels?
This introduction is part of the third issue of the web magazine "Voices from Around the World", which presents short analyses, interventions, and other contributions to urgent questions of the Global South – and Global North. The magazine, which was launched by the Global South Studies Center (GSSC) of the University of Cologne (Germany) in 2015, moves beyond rigid spatial, temporal as well as disciplinary boundaries. It aims to kick-start fresh debates by presenting views from thinkers around the globe.
White Africans are particularly associated with the troubles South Africa and Zimbabwe have faced... more White Africans are particularly associated with the troubles South Africa and Zimbabwe have faced throughout their histories. The story of the Franco-Mauritians, the white elite of Mauritius, and how they have fared during more than forty years since the Indian Ocean island gained independence, is much less known. However, their case is relevant as a distinctive example when attempting to understand white Africans in postcolonial settings. Unlike whites elsewhere on the continent, Franco-Mauritians did not apply brute force in order to defend their position in the face of independence. Yet the society that emerged from the struggle over independence is one shaped by dominant beliefs about ethnicity. As this article shows, despite a number of inverse effects Franco-Mauritians have benefited from this unexpected twist, and part of the explanation for their ability to maintain their elite position lies therefore in the complex reality of ethnic diversity in postcolonial Mauritius.
States acting as lenders of last resort in the aftermath of the 2007/2008 financial crisis clearl... more States acting as lenders of last resort in the aftermath of the 2007/2008 financial crisis clearly illustrated the central role that states have in the operations of financial markets. Despite their active roles, however, states continue to be presented as passive actors that dance to the tunes of the financial markets. This paper, however, takes a close look at how states’ geopolitical concerns influence financial regulation. States are perceived as serving the interests of their citizens, yet future rescue operations (as lenders of last resort) at the costs of the taxpayers remain a strong possibility – in particular, Too Big To Fail (TBTF) banks persist and their leverage-ratios have not greatly improved. To better understand why this is the case, this paper argues that geopolitical concerns influence the triangular relationships between the (democratic) state, the financial sector, and the state’s citizens (and taxpayers) in favour of the financial sector. Accordingly, the paper argues that we should more explicitly ask ‘what drives states (and politics) in their approaches to finance?’
Using the example of Mauritius, this paper seeks to enhance our understanding of how elites reorg... more Using the example of Mauritius, this paper seeks to enhance our understanding of how elites reorganise their environs when their position and power are threatened. In 1968 Mauritius became independent and for Franco-Mauritians, the island's former white colonial elite, this meant that a regime favourable to their dominant position ended. This paper outlines ways in which Franco-Mauritians have transformed their everyday geographies in the face of this change. We suggest that feelings of anxiety and the consequent desire to regain some measure of control have influenced Franco-Mauritians' (re)shaping of exclusive cultural, educational, recreational, and residential enclaves to create new patterns of exclusion and segregation. We suggest, moreover, that such enclaves are simultaneously – and paradoxically – a root of both continuing anxiety and the foundation of continued exclusivity.
This article examines the symbolic elite distinction of the Franco-Mauritians' white skin colour,... more This article examines the symbolic elite distinction of the Franco-Mauritians' white skin colour, as a contribution to literature on symbols of elite distinction. The case study is set to analyse how Franco-Mauritians' white skin colour works as a sign of elite distinction in addition to cultural differences between them and other Mauritians – which are influenced by labour division and reinforced by the structure of Mauritian society. The article underlines the intricacy of physical appearance in the transition from the colonial period (ending in 1968) to independence. It also shows how such embodied signs are persistent and ambiguous. To the elite, there is more than the control of scarce resources and, ultimately , power: elites need to noticeably distinguish themselves from others. Large and richly ornamented residences, expensive jewellery and lavish parties are just a few renowned external signs of superiority. But elite distinction can also be marked through physical appearances. This article examines the symbolic elite distinction of the Franco-Mauritians, the white elite of the island Mauritius, focusing on skin-colour as a distinguishing characteristic. It shows the intricacies of physical appearance in the transition from the colonial period to independence. The case study
Ideologies play a key role in the maintenance of inequality. Yet, as the case of the Franco-Mauri... more Ideologies play a key role in the maintenance of inequality. Yet, as the case of the Franco-Mauritians, the white elite of Mauritius, shows, ideologies are also often challenged. Following struggles between elites and other social groups, 'new' ideologies may even emerge. A closer look at the transition from the colonial to postcolonial period in Mauritius provides relevant insights into the dynamics of such struggles, including how, in ambiguous ways, outcomes may foster the maintenance of inequality. It shows that the emergence of multiculturalism as an ideology enhanced (political) equality, yet also allowed Franco-Mauritians to maintain their wealth base RÉSUMÉ Les idéologies jouent un rôle crucial dans le maintien des inégalités. Cependant, comme le démontre le cas des Franco-Mauriciens, les élites blanches de l'Île Maurice, ces idéologies sont aussi souvent remises en question. De « nouvelles » idéologies peuvent même émerger à la suite de conflits entre les élites et d'autres groupes sociaux. Une étude plus approfondie de la transition de la période coloniale à la période post-coloniale sur l'Île Maurice offre des perspectives intéressantes sur les dynamiques de tels conflits, telles que la manière dont, de façon souvent ambigüe, leurs conséquences peuvent faciliter le maintien des inégalités. Cet article démontre que l'émergence du multiculturalisme comme idéologie a permis une amélioration de l'égalité (politique); cependant, elle a également permis aux Franco-Mauriciens de consolider leur niveau de richesse.
Like many other examples of the ongoing global land rush, a large Zambian land deal initiated by ... more Like many other examples of the ongoing global land rush, a large Zambian land deal initiated by a European agribusiness in 2012 was met with cries of alarm from international critics about the amount of land purchased and the negative impact the investment could have on local residents. The agribusiness, however, responded relatively quickly. Not only did this initially contribute to protecting the position of (affected) residents, but it also enhanced the image of the agribusiness as a corporation willing to listen to concerns. As with land deals elsewhere, though, the situation looks much different ten years on, with the project not living up to its promises, either financially or regarding rural residents. To better understand these discrepancies, a closer look at various temporalities together is revealingimportantly, as others have discussed, because tensions between temporal dimensions of finance and agriculture frequently affect land deals. But simultaneously, as the Zambian case demonstrates, (international) critics, such as advocacy groups, NGOs, and media, operate according to particular temporal dynamicswith attention devoted to the investment fluctuating over timewhile (local) stakeholders, including neighbouring rural residents and state institutions refraining from enforcing the agribusiness to honour agreements along the line, also affect developments. Through analysing these temporalities over an extended period of time, this article aims to contribute to an understanding of challenges involved in holding land deals to account. Accordingly, broader lessons can be drawn about the ambiguous potential for mitigating negative effects of large-scale land acquisitionsand corporate practices more generally.
From 2011 onward, a European agribusiness progressively purchased about 38,000 hectares of land i... more From 2011 onward, a European agribusiness progressively purchased about 38,000 hectares of land in Zambia. Although operations have commenced on the ground, only part of the land has been developed. Salverda and Nkonde look at the
Elite culture has often been associated with high culture, and in opposition to low culture. Toda... more Elite culture has often been associated with high culture, and in opposition to low culture. Today, this distinction is less evident. However, elites' cultural practices, events, and status symbols remain of importance to the understanding of power in society. Yet, for a better understanding of elites' efforts to shape exclusive cultural environments and distinguish themselves from other social groups, their cultural occurrences should be understood in relation to their paradoxical interactions with other social groups.
Focaal: Journal of Global and Historical Anthropology, 2020
Th is article addresses the relevance of the moral economy concept in light of unequal socioecono... more Th is article addresses the relevance of the moral economy concept in light of unequal socioeconomic relations between a European agribusiness and rural residents in Zambia. It argues that the moral economy concept off ers a helpful heuristic device for analyzing how relationships are constituted, negotiated, and contested among interdependent actors with "opposing" socioeconomic interests. To explain the dynamics of their relationships, however, the moral economy concept has to extend beyond its usual, spatially restricted (i.e., local) focus. Instead , "external, " distant, non-local actors, such as foreign critics concerned about "land grabbing, " also infl uence the local character of moral-economic exchanges between the agribusiness and rural residents. Hence, the article proposes a multi-scalar perspective to account for the infl uence of a wider array of actors.
This article explores different ways to interpret the extent to which (capitalist) critique influ... more This article explores different ways to interpret the extent to which (capitalist) critique influences corporate practice. Starting from (self-) reflection upon negotiations between the author and a European company involved in land-based investment in Zambia, this contribution shows that corporate actors may be more responsive to their critics, such as NGOs, journalists, local communities, and (activist) scholars, than often assumed. It may be argued that anthropology partly misses this dynamic, due to its limited interest in ethnographic engagement with the powerful and its critical interpretations of capitalism. At the same time, with persistent unequal corporate advantages and wrongdoing, critical interpretations remain of significant relevance to understanding the limits of corporate responses. Reflecting on the balance between these different interpretations, the article aims to discuss the intricacies of analyzing and critiquing corporate practices.
Water connects. It brings people together, in collaboration as much as in conflict. Oceans have f... more Water connects. It brings people together, in collaboration as much as in conflict. Oceans have facilitated colonial expansion, slave trade and globalisation. Rivers have been arteries for the spread of people and ideas, and have fuelled upstream-downstream struggles. Water supply and sewage systems reflect the political differentials of (dis)connected households. And wells and springs draw thirsty travellers, animals and pilgrims together.
This contribution analyses how corporations involved in large-scale land acquisition respond to a... more This contribution analyses how corporations involved in large-scale land acquisition respond to a countermovement of critics such as non-governmental organisations, local communities, peasant movements, scholars and journalists. Though the countermovement rightly receives much attention, its impact on corporations/investors is less discussed. International guidelines and corporate pledges to ban ‘land grabbing’ in their operations, however, may be signs that critics have some influence. Yet by no means has this proven to be sufficient. Starting from a study of a European agribusiness operating in Zambia, this paper aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the extent to which corporations are susceptible to a countermovement.
Anthropology tends not to be associated with the study of elites, notwithstanding that investigat... more Anthropology tends not to be associated with the study of elites, notwithstanding that investigating elites ethnographically has much to contribute to our understanding of power. To facilitate this pursuit, however, a good understanding of who can be defi ned as members of an elite is helpful. A narrow group of only those persons directly in command, or a wider group including, for example, the elite's family members? By means of investigating the Franco-Mauritians, the white elite of the island of Mauritius, this article aims to explain why it matters to pay attention to the diff erences between narrower and broader defi nitions.
In this article we explore the often ambiguous relations between elites and other social groups, ... more In this article we explore the often ambiguous relations between elites and other social groups, both subordinate and of relatively equal standing. The article draws on two distinctive ethnographic cases: the white Franco-Mauritian elite, and the expert elite of management consultants in a Western European context. Our analysis of the two cases provides insights into how the power and status of elites is both contested and attributed by the people they interact with and relate to in concrete, yet substantially different contexts and situations. The aim is to show how the position and power of different kinds of elites is relationally negotiated and achieved. As we argue, a better understanding of the role of other social groups in the attribution, maintenance and contestation of status is relevant for understanding both more traditional economic elites and expert elites without tight networks.
In a pessimistic – or realistic – mood, it is hard to deny that the world’s future looks rather grim: growing inequality appears difficult to undo; the financial system has hardly become safer since the 2007/2008 crisis; and the rising power of BRICS and other Global South economies tends to rely on conventional economic and ecologically destructive growth models. At the same time, and nurturing a more positive mood, we are increasingly witnessing efforts to turn the tide of the current economic predicament: more inclusive forms of capitalism; ethical consumption; and alternative approaches to economic growth.
In this issue of Voices from Around the World we present a number of thoughts on alternatives to current forms of global capitalism, and considerations as to whether and how these may evolve. Increasingly we understand that existing economic orthodoxy does not offer a sufficient understanding of, or solutions to, the challenges we face. Even mainstream thinkers realise that current economic models have a variety of destructive tendencies, particularly regarding inequality, resource depletion, pollution and so forth. ...
Increased mobility and migration in a globalized world have led to the rise of multilingualism in... more Increased mobility and migration in a globalized world have led to the rise of multilingualism in the Global North, especially in urban areas. This increase of languages has led to a range of new studies of and perspectives on (urban) multilingualism. In the Global South, on the contrary, multilingualism has been part of the linguistic reality of people in the majority of societies for ages. In many parts of the South it is nothing new. Yet the linguistic environments and the social practices involving languages and policies are very diverse. And, of course, the picture gets more complicated as the Global South also exists in the Global North and vice versa.
What does it mean to speak more than one language and to live in a multilingual society? How do people cope with and use linguistic diversity? How do societies deal with multilingualism on institutional levels?
This introduction is part of the third issue of the web magazine "Voices from Around the World", which presents short analyses, interventions, and other contributions to urgent questions of the Global South – and Global North. The magazine, which was launched by the Global South Studies Center (GSSC) of the University of Cologne (Germany) in 2015, moves beyond rigid spatial, temporal as well as disciplinary boundaries. It aims to kick-start fresh debates by presenting views from thinkers around the globe.
White Africans are particularly associated with the troubles South Africa and Zimbabwe have faced... more White Africans are particularly associated with the troubles South Africa and Zimbabwe have faced throughout their histories. The story of the Franco-Mauritians, the white elite of Mauritius, and how they have fared during more than forty years since the Indian Ocean island gained independence, is much less known. However, their case is relevant as a distinctive example when attempting to understand white Africans in postcolonial settings. Unlike whites elsewhere on the continent, Franco-Mauritians did not apply brute force in order to defend their position in the face of independence. Yet the society that emerged from the struggle over independence is one shaped by dominant beliefs about ethnicity. As this article shows, despite a number of inverse effects Franco-Mauritians have benefited from this unexpected twist, and part of the explanation for their ability to maintain their elite position lies therefore in the complex reality of ethnic diversity in postcolonial Mauritius.
States acting as lenders of last resort in the aftermath of the 2007/2008 financial crisis clearl... more States acting as lenders of last resort in the aftermath of the 2007/2008 financial crisis clearly illustrated the central role that states have in the operations of financial markets. Despite their active roles, however, states continue to be presented as passive actors that dance to the tunes of the financial markets. This paper, however, takes a close look at how states’ geopolitical concerns influence financial regulation. States are perceived as serving the interests of their citizens, yet future rescue operations (as lenders of last resort) at the costs of the taxpayers remain a strong possibility – in particular, Too Big To Fail (TBTF) banks persist and their leverage-ratios have not greatly improved. To better understand why this is the case, this paper argues that geopolitical concerns influence the triangular relationships between the (democratic) state, the financial sector, and the state’s citizens (and taxpayers) in favour of the financial sector. Accordingly, the paper argues that we should more explicitly ask ‘what drives states (and politics) in their approaches to finance?’
Using the example of Mauritius, this paper seeks to enhance our understanding of how elites reorg... more Using the example of Mauritius, this paper seeks to enhance our understanding of how elites reorganise their environs when their position and power are threatened. In 1968 Mauritius became independent and for Franco-Mauritians, the island's former white colonial elite, this meant that a regime favourable to their dominant position ended. This paper outlines ways in which Franco-Mauritians have transformed their everyday geographies in the face of this change. We suggest that feelings of anxiety and the consequent desire to regain some measure of control have influenced Franco-Mauritians' (re)shaping of exclusive cultural, educational, recreational, and residential enclaves to create new patterns of exclusion and segregation. We suggest, moreover, that such enclaves are simultaneously – and paradoxically – a root of both continuing anxiety and the foundation of continued exclusivity.
This article examines the symbolic elite distinction of the Franco-Mauritians' white skin colour,... more This article examines the symbolic elite distinction of the Franco-Mauritians' white skin colour, as a contribution to literature on symbols of elite distinction. The case study is set to analyse how Franco-Mauritians' white skin colour works as a sign of elite distinction in addition to cultural differences between them and other Mauritians – which are influenced by labour division and reinforced by the structure of Mauritian society. The article underlines the intricacy of physical appearance in the transition from the colonial period (ending in 1968) to independence. It also shows how such embodied signs are persistent and ambiguous. To the elite, there is more than the control of scarce resources and, ultimately , power: elites need to noticeably distinguish themselves from others. Large and richly ornamented residences, expensive jewellery and lavish parties are just a few renowned external signs of superiority. But elite distinction can also be marked through physical appearances. This article examines the symbolic elite distinction of the Franco-Mauritians, the white elite of the island Mauritius, focusing on skin-colour as a distinguishing characteristic. It shows the intricacies of physical appearance in the transition from the colonial period to independence. The case study
Mauritius is a small island with a multi-ethnic population in the Indian Ocean. Starting with the... more Mauritius is a small island with a multi-ethnic population in the Indian Ocean. Starting with the Europeans who settled first on the uninhabited island, Mauritius and its inhabitants have experienced events similar to societies elsewhere in the (colonial) world. One of the most significant events it witnessed in the last century was independence in 1968, this also marking the end of a regime favourable to the island's white colonial elite, the Franco-Mauritians. Many observers around the time of independence were critical about the prospects for Mauritius, as the island was overpopulated, rife with ethnic tension and relying on one single crop, sugar-cane (see Naipaul 1972; Eriksen 1998). Mauritius, though certainly not without its problem, has fared remarkably well over the more than four decades that followed independence, while the Franco-Mauritians have also relatively successfully maintained their elite position in the postcolonial period. The island is often considered a success story, transforming from an island with little hope to a middle-income country -especially from the 1980s onwards. Deborah Bräutigam (1999) refers to it as the 'Mauritian miracle', with a prosperous economy and a stable political system. Certainly not all Mauritians have benefited and many remain in poverty, but much larger numbers are advantaged by the island's economic wealth, and income inequality has diminished since independence (Sandbrook et al. 2007: 126, 127). 1 Many have tried to explain this success, though in-depth analyses of the role and position of a white elite in a postcolonial setting are largely absent.
We encounter water every day. It is a vital substance biologically as much as socially. We may notice this in art exhibitions and university courses communicating submersed and subversive facts about water; the rhythms of floods and tides resonating with fishing techniques and conflict patterns; inundations carrying moral and political weight as much as water and pollution; and particular mixtures of water and land generating wealth, anxieties and memories. In short, wherever people deal with water, they are involved not only with a physical element, but also with social relations. In fact, whenever we pretend that water is foremost the molecule H2O, we ignore all the political, economic, infrastructural, emotional and legal aspects of this element without which water would not be what it is for us today. This issue explores some of the ways in which water is profoundly social, both in the sense of being co-produced by social life, and by being a core constituent of it. Some contributions to this issue do this through the examples listed above. Others illustrate the way water positions people and their perspectives. A few show how large water infrastructures reshuffle social lives. And some suggest that water may sometimes be better imagined as a word in the plural, rather than a singular, universal substance.
Clothing and dress are among the most central and common aspects of social and cultural life around the world. Dress may be used to represent a person’s or a group’s identity, and to create similarity or difference. Clothes are deeply social as they are commonly handed on in families, among friends and in transnational communities. They may be changed over the course of a day and their styles change over time in response to global and local fashion trends. To explore the significance of clothing in identity formations, we have invited authors from around the world to reflect on this topic.
Web magazine" Voices from around the world", Issue 2, 2016;
Global South Studies Center, Univers... more Web magazine" Voices from around the world", Issue 2, 2016; Global South Studies Center, University of Cologne, Germany
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Papers by Tijo Salverda
http://gssc.uni-koeln.de/voices
In a pessimistic – or realistic – mood, it is hard to deny that the world’s future looks rather grim: growing inequality appears difficult to undo; the financial system has hardly become safer since the 2007/2008 crisis; and the rising power of BRICS and other Global South economies tends to rely on conventional economic and ecologically destructive growth models. At the same time, and nurturing a more positive mood, we are increasingly witnessing efforts to turn the tide of the current economic predicament: more inclusive forms of capitalism; ethical consumption; and alternative approaches to economic growth.
In this issue of Voices from Around the World we present a number of thoughts on alternatives to current forms of global capitalism, and considerations as to whether and how these may evolve. Increasingly we understand that existing economic orthodoxy does not offer a sufficient understanding of, or solutions to, the challenges we face. Even mainstream thinkers realise that current economic models have a variety of destructive tendencies, particularly regarding inequality, resource depletion, pollution and so forth.
...
What does it mean to speak more than one language and to live in a multilingual society? How do people cope with and use linguistic diversity? How do societies deal with multilingualism on institutional levels?
This introduction is part of the third issue of the web magazine "Voices from Around the World", which presents short analyses, interventions, and other contributions to urgent questions of the Global South – and Global North. The magazine, which was launched by the Global South Studies Center (GSSC) of the University of Cologne (Germany) in 2015, moves beyond rigid spatial, temporal as well as disciplinary boundaries. It aims to kick-start fresh debates by presenting views from thinkers around the globe.
http://gssc.uni-koeln.de/voices
http://gssc.uni-koeln.de/voices
In a pessimistic – or realistic – mood, it is hard to deny that the world’s future looks rather grim: growing inequality appears difficult to undo; the financial system has hardly become safer since the 2007/2008 crisis; and the rising power of BRICS and other Global South economies tends to rely on conventional economic and ecologically destructive growth models. At the same time, and nurturing a more positive mood, we are increasingly witnessing efforts to turn the tide of the current economic predicament: more inclusive forms of capitalism; ethical consumption; and alternative approaches to economic growth.
In this issue of Voices from Around the World we present a number of thoughts on alternatives to current forms of global capitalism, and considerations as to whether and how these may evolve. Increasingly we understand that existing economic orthodoxy does not offer a sufficient understanding of, or solutions to, the challenges we face. Even mainstream thinkers realise that current economic models have a variety of destructive tendencies, particularly regarding inequality, resource depletion, pollution and so forth.
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What does it mean to speak more than one language and to live in a multilingual society? How do people cope with and use linguistic diversity? How do societies deal with multilingualism on institutional levels?
This introduction is part of the third issue of the web magazine "Voices from Around the World", which presents short analyses, interventions, and other contributions to urgent questions of the Global South – and Global North. The magazine, which was launched by the Global South Studies Center (GSSC) of the University of Cologne (Germany) in 2015, moves beyond rigid spatial, temporal as well as disciplinary boundaries. It aims to kick-start fresh debates by presenting views from thinkers around the globe.
http://gssc.uni-koeln.de/voices
http://voices.uni-koeln.de/2017-3/socialwateranintroduction
We encounter water every day. It is a vital substance biologically as much as socially. We may notice this in art exhibitions and university courses communicating submersed and subversive facts about water; the rhythms of floods and tides resonating with fishing techniques and conflict patterns; inundations carrying moral and political weight as much as water and pollution; and particular mixtures of water and land generating wealth, anxieties and memories. In short, wherever people deal with water, they are involved not only with a physical element, but also with social relations. In fact, whenever we pretend that water is foremost the molecule H2O, we ignore all the political, economic, infrastructural, emotional and legal aspects of this element without which water would not be what it is for us today. This issue explores some of the ways in which water is profoundly social, both in the sense of being co-produced by social life, and by being a core constituent of it. Some contributions to this issue do this through the examples listed above. Others illustrate the way water positions people and their perspectives. A few show how large water infrastructures reshuffle social lives. And some suggest that water may sometimes be better imagined as a word in the plural, rather than a singular, universal substance.
http://voices.uni-koeln.de/2017-2/garmentsinexchange
Clothing and dress are among the most central and common aspects of social and cultural life around the world. Dress may be used to represent a person’s or a group’s identity, and to create similarity or difference. Clothes are deeply social as they are commonly handed on in families, among friends and in transnational communities. They may be changed over the course of a day and their styles change over time in response to global and local fashion trends. To explore the significance of clothing in identity formations, we have invited authors from around the world to reflect on this topic.
Global South Studies Center, University of Cologne, Germany
http://voices.uni-koeln.de/2016-2/globalmodernitiesand