Equalising processes, processes of discrimination and the forest people of Central Africa

Kenrick, J. (2005) Equalising processes, processes of discrimination and the forest people of Central Africa. In: Widlok, T. and Tadesse, W.G. (eds.) Property and Equality. Vol. 2: Encapsulation, Commercialisation, Discrimination. Berghahn Books: New York, USA, pp. 104-128. ISBN 9781571816177

Abstract

The first half of this chapter examines the way in which habitual attempts to counter discrimination tend instead to reinforce that discrimination. It examines the situation of the forest people of Central Africa in the light of Woodburn's writing on discrimination (Ethnic and Racial Studies, (1997) 20(2), 345-361) and in the light of what could be called the 'catch-22' of discrimination. The situation of the Bagyeli in the context of the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline, and the perspective of researchers working for the pipeline company, the World Bank and the EU, are examined as further examples of the way in which this habitual Western approach closes down the theoretical space for understanding different ways of relating, and as a consequence closes down the social and physical space for manoeuvre for these people on the ground. The second half of the chapter turns to the particular predicament of the Mbuti of the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and to Woodburn's analysis of equalizing processes among immediate-return hunter-gatherer social systems. Turnbull's analysis of the relations between the Mbuti and the forest, and between the Mbuti and their Bila village neighbours (The Forest People (1993) London: Pimlico) is questioned. The need to focus on both equalizing and disempowering processes to understand those relations, is demonstrated.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Keywords: Cultural anthropology, discrimination, forests, human ecology, parity, political power, social interaction, social systems, traditional society, Zaire
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kenrick, Dr Justin
• Authors: Kenrick, J.
• Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology; H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
• Publisher: Berghahn Books
• ISBN: 9781571816177

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