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Janus-faced activists: the social and political embeddedness of civil society in Niger

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2020

Jannik Schritt
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Abstract

This article discusses the workings of civil society and its leaders in Niger. Tracing the country's historically sedimented socio-political order, it argues that Niger's civil society is characterized by a twofold embeddedness. Since the introduction of multiparty politics in 1990, the political game in Niger has been exemplified by co-optation, bribery and corruption. These spoils are a central focus for civil society leaders who have become experienced in the political game. Indeed, actors’ social embeddedness in networks of solidarity demands that they capture and redistribute the spoils they receive. At the same time, however, their social and political legitimacy as civil society leaders rests on their ability to avoid becoming entangled in the game, and to avoid accusations of ‘playing politics’. In other words, civil society activists are embedded in the same social and political structures as state bureaucrats and politicians. In this context, civil society activists cannot maintain the moral high ground they often claim to occupy.

Résumé

Résumé

Cet article traite du fonctionnement de la société civile et de ses leaders au Niger. Décrivant l'ordre sociopolitique historiquement sédimenté du pays, il soutient que la société civile du Niger est caractérisée par un double ancrage. Depuis l'introduction de la politique multipartite en 1990, le jeu politique au Niger a été exemplifié par la cooptation et la corruption. Ces dernières sont une cible centrale des leaders de la société civile qui sont devenus rôdés au jeu politique. En effet, l'ancrage social des acteurs dans les réseaux de solidarité exige qu'ils s'emparent des fruits qu'ils reçoivent et les redistribuent. En même temps, cependant, leur légitimité sociale et politique en tant que leaders de la société civile repose sur leur aptitude à éviter de se mêler au jeu et de se faire accuser de « faire de la politique ». En d'autres termes, les activistes de la société civile sont ancrés dans les mêmes structures sociales et politiques que les bureaucrates de l’État et les politiciens. Dans ce contexte, les activistes de la société civile ne peuvent pas maintenir la position morale élevée qu'ils prétendent souvent occuper.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 90 , Issue 2 , February 2020 , pp. 357 - 376
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 2020

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