Cape Verde: on Aspects of Exclusion and ‘Identity Construction’“
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by OTHES DIPLOMARBEIT Titel der Diplomarbeit “Consequences of ‘Development’ & Globalization in Cape Verde: On Aspects of Exclusion and ‘Identity Construction’“ Verfasserin Hanna Stepanik angestrebter akademischer Grad Magistra (Mag.) Wien, September 2011 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt: A 057 390 Studienrichtung lt. Studienblatt: Internationale Entwicklung Betreuer: Univ. Prof. Dr. Walter Schicho 2 Preface In 2007, I first travelled to Cape Verde to volunteer at a local children- and youth center. I went there rather naïvely, not knowing much about the country’s history or current situation. After a couple of days I heard the first comments about “African“ and “European“. When I explained to people that it was my first time in Africa, for example, some told me not to say that out loud since many Cape Verdeans did not like to hear that. These comments and my overall experience there made me curious to learn more about the history of and the identity construction on the archipelago. After my return to Vienna I took several classes dealing with Creole Studies and thereby deepened my knowledge of and interest for Cape Verde in particular. Moreover, I have continued my work for the Cape Verdean children- and youth center up to today and have therefore constantly been involved and confronted with the country’s contemporary issues and difficulties. I would hereby like to thank everyone who has supported me thus far and will continue to support me. A big thank-you to Bea Gomes, Walter Schicho, and the entire “Traraa“-research group for their continuous feedback, input, and time. To my Cape Verdean friends and colleagues: Obrigadu pa tudu, pa nhós ajuda y gazadju!! And – last but not least – to my family and friends, who never stop to encourage, impress, and inspire me. 3 4 Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 7 1. Historical Abstract: Cape Verde ........................................................................................ 9 2. “Development” & Globalization in Cape Verde ............................................................. 13 2.1. General Introduction ..................................................................................................... 13 2.2. Economic Development since the 1990s ...................................................................... 14 2.3. Consequence I: Exclusion ............................................................................................. 23 3. Research Topic ................................................................................................................... 41 3.1. Theoretical Foundations and Concepts ......................................................................... 41 3.2. Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 41 4. Method ................................................................................................................................. 45 4.1. Grounded Theory .......................................................................................................... 45 4.1.1. Theoretical Sampling ............................................................................................. 46 4.1.2. Theoretical Coding ................................................................................................. 46 4.2. Data collection ............................................................................................................... 47 4.2.1. Access to the Field ................................................................................................. 47 4.2.2. Interviews ............................................................................................................... 48 4.2.2.1. Expert Interviews ................................................................................................ 50 4.2.2.2. Narrative Interview ............................................................................................. 51 4.2.3. Participant observation ........................................................................................... 51 4.2.4. Additional research ................................................................................................ 52 4.3. Evaluation & Interpretation ........................................................................................... 53 4.3.1. Coding .................................................................................................................... 54 5. Identity Construction ......................................................................................................... 55 5.1. “Race“ & “black identity“ ............................................................................................. 59 5.1.1. Creoleness / Hybridity ............................................................................................ 63 5.2. Gender & Class ............................................................................................................. 65 5.3. Criticism ........................................................................................................................ 67 5 Results ..................................................................................................................................... 71 6. Consequence II: Changes in Identity Construction ........................................................ 71 6.1. Mestiçagem & Creoleness ............................................................................................. 74 6.1.1. Identity Markers ..................................................................................................... 76 6.1.1.1. Language ............................................................................................................. 76 6.1.1.2. Music and Dance ................................................................................................. 81 6.1.1.3. Migration ............................................................................................................. 83 6.2. “European” vs. “African” .............................................................................................. 87 6.2.1. Badiu & Sanpadjudu .............................................................................................. 92 6.2.2. Mandjaku ................................................................................................................ 96 6.2.3. “Development” = ? ............................................................................................... 100 6.3. A “new” Kabuverdianidade? ....................................................................................... 105 7. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 109 8. Acronyms .......................................................................................................................... 113 9. Bibliography ..................................................................................................................... 115 Annex ..................................................................................................................................... 121 Figure 1 .......................................................................................................................... 121 Figure 2 .......................................................................................................................... 121 Figure 3 .......................................................................................................................... 122 Abstract English ................................................................................................................... 123 Abstract Deutsch .................................................................................................................. 125 Curriculum Vitae ................................................................................................................. 127 6 Introduction In the contemporary world of rapid globalization, change, and social, cultural, political, and economic upheaval, people increasingly feel the need to reconceptualize their identity as it represents a sense of security and solidarity in a world filled with transition and instability. This thesis addresses the recent process of ”development” and globalization in Cape Verde since the early 1990s and its consequences on ”cultural” or ”national” identity construction – a construction that has always evolved around the society’s closeness to “Africanity” and “Europeanness”, respectively. The growing Internet access plays a vital role in this context, especially with regard to the younger generation, which is the main research focus. Subsequently, the correlation between identity construction, the conception of ”development” or ”developed” and ”undeveloped”, respectively, and processes of social exclusion will be emphasized. The thesis at hand aims at singling out and analyzing the aspect of identity construction and how people “adapt” their identity to the processes of “development” and globalization in Cape Verde. The relevant contexts and backgrounds are strongly entangled, which leads to constant overlaps and reciprocative effects. This means that changes described are