Gender, gays and gain: the sexualised politics of donor aid in Malawi

Chanika, E., Lwanda, J. L. and Muula, A. S. (2013) Gender, gays and gain: the sexualised politics of donor aid in Malawi. Africa Spectrum, 48(1), pp. 89-108. (doi: 10.1177/000203971304800105)

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Abstract

Many Malawian politicians have exploited religious and cultural discourses, encouraging the discourse of the “God-fearing Malawi nation” while also acknowledging the country as a secular state. This discourse -which most recently underwent further development in the early 1980s when Christians and Muslims, funded by donor money, accelerated their evangelical drives in the context of a one-party Malawi – resonates with a patriarchal, conservative political dispensation. This paper traces the evolution of the “God-fearing nation” discourse in Malawian politics. It posits that the government used the “gay rights issue” as a strategy to disorient human rights activists and donors. Gay rights were de-linked from other civil rights, forcing a binary approach toward gay rights, which were seen by government supporters as “anti-Christian”, “anti-Malawian” concepts. The debate with donors enabled the government to claim “sovereign autonomy” and galvanise the population into an anti-aid mentality (better no aid than aid that supports homosexuality).

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Lwanda, Dr John Lloyd
Authors: Chanika, E., Lwanda, J. L., and Muula, A. S.
Subjects:H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences
Journal Name:Africa Spectrum
Publisher:SAGE
ISSN:0002-0397
ISSN (Online):1868-6869
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2012 The Authors
First Published:First published in Africa Spectrum 48(1):89-108
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

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