Language and collective mobilization : the story of Zanzibar

Communal conflict defines politics in Africa. One of the earliest examples of such carnage occurred in Zanzibar, now part of Tanzania. Often considered to be quite tranquil, Zanzibar's recent electoral conflict, like its violent revolution, is a threat to this pace. Zanzibari cleavage remains a resource conflict, a contest over land and language. Such conflict, within and without Zanzibar, will not be fully understood under the rubric of \_racial\_ competition alone. Language and Collective Mobilization analyzes the origins of communal conflict in five phases of Zanzibar's modern history. The first phase examines the implementation of British colonial control, focusing on the conversion of Zanzibar's subsistence farming economy to a cash-crop plantation complex.This first phase of colonial rule disrupted a variety of indigenous political and social institutions which traditionally promoted peace and stability. During subsequent phases of colonial rule, the British government devised political, economic and educational policies that promoted elite Arab rule at the expense of the majority Swahili- speaking population. Colonial authorities rendered illegal any attempts by Swahilis to organize political resistance, a rule which exacerbated anti-Arab animosity. Colonial rule ended in 1964, when Swahili-speaking Zanzibaris led a violent revolution against English command and Arab control. Having forced a variety of wealthy Arab and Indian communities off the island, Swahili revolutionaries allowed a small number of Indian merchants and a few Shirazi farmers to remain. Less than twenty years after the revolution, in this fifth phase of Zanzibar's political history, partisan conflict between the Shirazi and Swahili populations threatens to unleash a new rash of violence. The social climate mirrors the first phase of British rule, where economic stratification deepens and political tensions grow. The analysis offered in this book will find an audience in students, scholars, journalists, and policymakers interested in understanding so-called 'ethnic' conflict in Africa. Language And Collective Mobilization Analyzes The Origins Of Communal Conflict In Five Phases Of Zanzibar's Modern History. The First Phase Examines The Implementation Of British Colonial Control, Focusing On The Conversion Of Zanzibar's Subsistence Farming Economy To A Cash Crop Plantation Complex. This First Phase Of Colonial Rule Disrupted A Variety Of Indigenous Political And Social Institutions That Traditionally Promoted Peace And Stability. During Subsequent Phases Of Colonial Rule, The British Government Devised Political, Economic, And Educational Policies That Promoted Elite Arab Rule At The Expense Of The Majority Swahili-speaking Population. Colonial Authorities Rendered Illegal Any Attempts By Swahilis To Organize Political Resistance, A Rule That Exacerbated Anti-arab Animosity. The Analysis Offered In This Book Will Find An Audience In Students, Scholars, Journalists, And Policymakers Interested In Understanding So-called Ethnic Conflict In Africa.--jacket. Nadra O. Hashim. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 233-242) And Index. Language and Collective Mobilization analyzes the origins of communal conflict in five phases of Zanzibar's modern history. The first phase examines the implementation of British colonial control, focusing on the conversion of Zanzibar's subsistencefarming economy to a cash-crop plantation complex. This first phase of colonial rule disrupted a variety of indigenous political and social institutions which traditionally promoted peace and stability. During subsequent phases of colonial rule, the British government devised political, economic and educational policies that promoted elite Arab rule