From autochthony to violence? Discursive and coercive social practices of the Mai-Mai in Fizi, eastern DR Congo

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Periodical article

Title:	From autochthony to violence? Discursive and coercive social practices of the Mai-Mai in Fizi, eastern DR Congo
Author:	Verweijen, Judith
Year:	2015
Periodical:	African Studies Review (ISSN 1555-2462)
Volume:	58
Issue:	2
Pages:	157-180
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Congo (Democratic Republic of)
Subjects:	militias political violence self-determination
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1017/asr.2015.42
Abstract:	This article explores the links between autochthony discourses and physical violence through a case study of a Mai-Mai group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. While this group garners support by employing such discourses and related tropes of autodéfense (self-defense), there are clear limits to the capacity of these narratives to mobilize for and legitimize violent action. Furthermore, much of the violence committed by the Mai-Mai is not informed directly by notions of autochthony, but is rather geared toward the consolidation of power. This observation should act as a caution against the a priori coding of violence according to the ways it is discursively framed by its protagonists. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract]