Changing continuties: Multi-activity in the network politic of Colobane, Dakar.

Abstract

Studien er basert på feltarbeid i bydelen Colobane og inkluderer deltagende observasjon, uformelle samtaler og intervjuer med ulike aktører. I avhandlingen beskriver doktoranden hvordan lokalpolitikken formes gjennom ulike personlige relasjoner og sosiale nettverk, samt medlemskap i forskjellige religiøse, sosiale og økonomiske foreninger og grupper. Studien har en bred forståelse av politikk, som inkluderer uformell innflytelse og mobilisering i hverdagslivet så vel som formelle statlige institusjoner og partipolitikk. Deltagelse i det lokale sivilsamfunnet og foreningslivet, slik som kvinnegrupper eller religiøse foreninger, er en måte å fremme interesser på og sikre penger til mat, hus og medisiner gjennom medlemmers solidaritet og gjensidige hjelp. Det knyttes også patron-klient relasjoner mellom autoriteter og vanlige innbyggere. For eksempel gir lokale politikere økonomisk hjelp, ofte i bytte mot politisk støtte og anerkjennelse som lokale ledere.<br><br>

Bakgrunnen for studien er større samfunnsmessige og politiske endringer i Senegal. I 2000 fant den første virkelige regimeendringen siden frigjøringen sted. Dette førte til håp om styrking av demokratiet og en løsning på den vedvarende sosioøkonomiske krisen. Selboe beskriver hvordan lokalpolitikken i Colobane i denne situasjonen kjennetegnes av både endring og kontinuitet. På tvers av de mange arenaene der lokalpolitikken kommer til utrykk sees en økt vektlegging av demokratiske idealer, skepsis til politikere og tendens til å stille spørsmål ved autoriteter. Samtidig fortsetter hovedpraksisene i nettverkspolitikken som før, med utveksling av tjenester, sterk konkurranse og korrupsjon i ulike institusjoner. Det handler fremdeles om kamp for nødvendige ressurser. Forholdene er dermed preget av en paradoksal logikk, der krav om og uttrykk for demokratisk politikk blandes med de samme etablerte praksisene som lokale aktører sier de ønsker å endre på.

This dissertation analyses the local political space and practices in the neighbourhood of Colobane in Dakar, Senegal. In 2000, Senegal experienced the first change of regime since independence, leading to popular hopes of democratic consolidation and a solution to the enduring socio-economic crisis. The everyday politics of the poor neighbourhood of Colobane is informed by these hopes for and processes of societal and political change, as well as the context of material deprivation.<br><br>

Local political practices are characterised by multi-activity and the importance of personal contacts and social networks. This personalised network politics is a crucial feature of both local and national Senegalese politics, and include both direct and indirect relations and contact. Hence, local inhabitants and authorities may use face to face encounters and negotiations, or intermediaries, in their political endeavours and battles for access to symbolic and material resources. The multi-activity of local actors entails that they simultaneously cultivate a variety of personal relations and engage in different social networks and institutions in political, economic and religious fields to promote their interests. For instance, an inhabitant of Colobane may approach a local politician, notable or mosque for help to secure basic needs. Membership in local associational life, such as women’s groups and religious associations, can give access to mutual help and potential saving functions that help manage everyday expenses. Engagement in local associations is also a strategy of local politicians, along with the nurturing of individual and personal relations. Their goals of political support and legitimate authority are closely related to the provision of economic support. Thus, local state-society relations often take the form of negotiated exchanges of material and symbolic resources.<br><br>

The study thus adopts a broad understanding of politics which moves beyond the institutions of the state and party politics, to include informal arrangements, relations and networks in various social fields. The material is produced through ethnographic fieldwork, and methods like interviews, informal conversation and observation. A broad range of actors and institutions, and their relations, have been analysed. This involves not only the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, but also politicians and bureaucrats of the local commune, as well as more customary authorities such as local notables, délégues de quartier and imams. In addition, the many local collective organisations have been investigated, for instance the management committees of mosques and other social, economic and religious associations. The dissertation highlights the manifold ways of doing politics in the neighbourhood, as well as how relations and power is produced and negotiated. This involves a politicized understanding of the concept of social capital.<br><br>

Network politics in Colobane are characterised by changing continuities. The local political processes in Colobane relate to the wider social and political changes in Senegal. This is manifested in significant discursive changes and some altered practices across social fields, such as an increased questioning of authority and a rejection of politicians resulting from the general crisis of politics. Still, there are striking continuities in social and political practices. The established relations and practices of network politics, often of a clientelistic nature, are still reproduced in the local politics of Colobane. The result is paradoxical political logics, where demands and expressions towards democratic politics merge with the established practices local actors claim they want to change. For instance, various local associations operate within and reproduce a fragmented local civil society, when trying to juggle these paradoxical logics. On the one hand they reject the clientelism of political parties and hope for joint actions with other local groups and national and international NGOs. On the other hand, they need material resources to mobilise members and realise goals and activities. These resources, however, are most readily accessible through alliances with political parties and politicians which again fuel antagonism and competition. In the context of socio-economic crisis and with the sustained logics of clientelist exchanges and accumulation in party politics, established practices and relations are reproduced, despite vital discursive and practical changes. The situation of local network politics in Colobane is one of paradoxical changing continuities.