Political Effects of Caste in Senegal

• In Event: Identity and Political Participation

Abstract

Caste structures exist among 15 ethnic groups in West Africa, spanning at least 14 countries (Tamari 1991). They present barriers to marriage, limit employment opportunities, confer social stigma (Babou 2008) and impact development or access to education (e.g. Gueye et al. 2018). Despite this social salience, the political consequences of caste are poorly understood. Scholars note that caste is an obstacle to political representation (Markovitz 1970, Diop 1981, Villalon 1995, Mbow 2008), but the specific degree and nature of the limitations it poses have not been studied systematically. How does caste status impact politicians’ electoral prospect and voters’ evaluation of political candidates, and how does it affect citizens’ sense of efficacy? This paper examines the impact of caste on political representation using original data from interviews and focus groups in Senegal with individuals across the caste hierarchy.

Authors

• Dominika Koter, Colgate University

• Leonardo R. Arriola, University of California, Berkeley

• Martha Wilfahrt, University of California, Berkeley