at Google ScholarTitle data
Müller, Carsten:
(Un)leashed potentials: an activist-centered perspective on the political mobilization of motorcycle taxi drivers in eastern DRC.
In: Journal of Eastern African Studies.
Vol. 18
(2024)
Issue 3
.
- pp. 366-387.
ISSN 1753-1063
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2024.2375078
Abstract in another language
The re-emergence of competitive elections in Africa has sparked new interest in political mobilization on the continent. Much of this literature focusses on political actors and the strategies they use to mobilize. If the campaign activists are reviewed at all, they are often categorized by their ethnic or religious affiliation. Thereby, abilities and potentials for political participation, which are important within conceptual literature on political mobilization, are side-lined. This article uses an activist-centered perspective to review the political mobilization of motorcycle taxi drivers, eastern Congo. Based on empirical research in 2020 and 2021, it evaluates the mobilization potentials of the so-called motards and their deployment during political action. The article finds that motards possess unique potentials for participating in political campaigns due to their mobility and large social networks but only partially deploy them. While their mobility potential is widely utilized, the mobilization of their social networks is hampered by a lack of allegiances and infrequent contacts with politicians. Based on the research findings, the article advocates expanding the perception of political mobilization in Africa by reflecting on the preconditions of mobilizability such as enabling potentials, interactions with activists and aligned political strategies.
Further data
| Item Type: | Article in a journal |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Keywords: | Political mobilization; motorcycle taxis; campaign activists; Africa; D.R. Congo; Kivu |
| Institutions of the University: | Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Professor Political Geography Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Professor Political Geography > Professor Political Geography - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Martin Doevenspeck Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences |
| Result of work at the UBT: | Yes |
| DDC Subjects: | 300 Social sciences > 300 Social sciences, sociology and anthropology 900 History and geography > 910 Geography, travel |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Jul 2024 05:45 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Sep 2024 12:13 |
| URI: | https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/89921 |