The views of the local people on the right to self-determination and identity : anglophones of Cameroon

Abstract

The primary topic of the thesis is the Anglophone population of Cameroon and how this population’s identity has shaped their views on self-determination. The context behind this research is that the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon have been plunged into a conflict known as the ‘Anglophone Crisis’ (Shulika & Tella, 2022, pp. 616). Many factors are at play in this conflict, including identity and self-determination, but it is especially important to note that the name of the crisis is tied directly to a form of identity: linguistic identity. Generally, the right to self-determination is a very controversial topic with the role of identity potentially playing very much into this; a facet that is true in the conflict seen in Cameroon currently. The different theories of identity along the definition of self-determination chosen for this research provides a framework that allows for an adequate analysis to be conducted on this topic. Theoretical literature is the foundation for the context of the research question and methodologies that are discussed in this paper. This thesis is a result of both existing research and fieldwork conducted in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. A case study is conducted investigating what the perception is and what role identity and self-determination have in Anglophone society; This is done utilizing existing research. The fieldwork conducted for this paper in the Southwest region, being one of the two Anglophone regions in Cameroon, provides great insight into how individuals interpret self-determination and identity presently, therefore allowing for the examination of potential connections. Fieldwork was only conducted in the Southwest Region of Cameroon, as while interviews were planned for the other Anglophone region, being that of the Northwest, the deteriorating security situation all but prevented this. It can be stated that conflict has played a significant role in anglophone identity formation, and as conflict can be tied to self-determination, it would prove detrimental to exclude this topic. Even with this geographic limitation, a wide variety of individuals were able to provide valuable opinions that contributed significantly to this study. Both of these methodologies seek to determine the views of the local people and with direct population participation, it is hoped that this research will be able to deeper reflect the current views of the Anglophone community. The results that were reached stemming from these methodologies were that the relationship between identity and self-determination in the Anglophone populations of Cameroon is not clear-cut. Due to various factors playing out in the Southwest region, perhaps with the most notable being the Anglophone Crisis, the relationship between identity and self-determination is complicated. Many people view the treatment they receive from the Francophone government as unjust, pushing many towards adopting an identity or parts of an identity that supports self-determination. However due to the violent nature of self-determination that has been pursued in this region over the years, support has dwindled for this ideal, resulting in many Anglophones associating with an identity that is tied to the state of Cameroon. These results contribute to existing scholarship in that identity and self-determination are fluid concepts in Anglophone Cameroonian society, and as such the actions of the government and separatist fighters continue to shape the relationship between identity and self-determination. This fact must be taken into consideration when approaching conflict resolution, as the division between those who want separation and those who want reconciliation grows daily.