Overcoming Ethnic Violence in Africa: A Christian Philosophical Reflection

Ethnic violence in Africa has a number of underlying causes but at root the author identifies a lack of subjectivity as the common denominator between them. Ethnic conflict is dependent upon the crowd mentality which gives rise to a fear of the other. The crowd may be understood as undifferentiated individuals, lacking a personal subjectivity and who seek identity by referring to group norms and values in an uncritical way. These norms demand the objectification of those who are outside the group, and it is this objectification which validates acts of violence against outsiders. In arguing that it is this lack of subjectivity that is at the root of the problem, the author has also proposed that the solution is informed by the insights regarding subjectivity offered by Kierkegaard. This solution offers an approach to education in the widest sense that permits the space for reflection and an encouragement to reflect subjectively with the aim of allowing the development of moral, independent, reflective individuals, who are free to exercise choice and unafraid to question and evaluate the worth of group social values and norms and to work for change where this is warranted