Baraza: March 3, 2023
Dr. Straussberger is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science & Public Administration. His publications include: “Storming the Citadel: Decolonization and Political Contestation in Guinea’s Futa Jallon, 1945-1961.” Journal of African History (2016) and “Fractures and Fragments: Finding Postcolonial Histories on Guinea in Local Archives.” History in Africa (2015).
Dr. John (Trey) Straussberger, Assistant Professor of African History at Florida Gulf Coast University, presented on the role of ethnic politics in Guinea, post-independence. He finds precolonial roots for divisions, but that ethnic politics took on newfound importance following independence in 1958. Guinea had voted against joining the French community, which drew De Gaulle’s vengeance. The French government sabotaged Guinea’s independence by flooding the country with counterfeit cash and ripped out or demolished infrastructure, but post-independence mismanagement also led to economic hardship. In this period, several events also took place causing political instability, including a brief Portuguese invasion of Conakry to root members of the exiled Guinea Bissau independence movement. President Sékou Touré, in this context, blamed the Fulbe for Guinea’s woes, often accusing them of connivance with France. But it was social and ethnic groups pushed to the margins of society who would emerge as powerful opponents of Touré’s authoritarian regime. Nevertheless, he would die in office. Straussberger also points to other interesting aspects of Guinea’s history, such as it being women who played major political roles in party mobilization, or the contribution of itinerant Guinean peanut traders in the development of Senegal’s mercantile class. At a time Guinea faces much uncertainty, having faced a military coup in 2021 and grown closer to Russia, it is worth revisiting its history, not only in terms of ethnic politics, but in exploring the unique and interesting history of this West African country. This is especially the case as Guinea finds itself in the international spotlight, and bauxite demand is surging.
Recap written by Cory D. Satter