Slavery and Essentialism in Highland Madagascar: Ethnography, History, Cognition

This book explores the prejudice against slave descendants in highland Madagascar and its persistence more than a century after the official abolition of slavery. It argues that prejudice is rooted in psychological essentialism and that the social stigma against slavery is a legacy of the colonial abolition of slavery.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 194 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the deep-rooted prejudice against slave descendants in the highland regions of Madagascar, a phenomenon that persists more than a century after the official abolition of slavery. The term "unclean people" is a pervasive expression used in these areas, referring to individuals of alleged slave descent who face discrimination on a daily basis and in various forms. Author Denis Regnier sheds light on the underlying reasons for this prejudice, revealing that it is deeply rooted in psychological essentialism. Free descendants, according to Regnier, hold the belief that "slaves possess a 'dirty essence' that is impossible to cleanse." To challenge the widely accepted notion that the social stigma against slavery is a legacy of pre-colonial society, Regnier conducts groundbreaking field experiments. Through these experiments, he compellingly argues that the essentialist view of "slaves" is a product of the historical process that unfolded following the colonial abolition of slavery. While slaves could be cleansed through ritual means in pre-abolition times, the abolition of slavery resulted in a superficial transformation of slaves into free persons, while their inner essence remained unchanged and was gradually constructed as "forever unchangeable."

This insightful volume, based on extensive fieldwork, holds great appeal to scholars specializing in anthropology, African studies, development studies, cultural psychology, and those interested in examining the enduring impact of slavery. It provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of prejudice, social identity, and the ongoing struggle for equality in societies transitioning from colonialism.

Weight: 380g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367640446