Abstract
Africa continues to be a continent inflicted by conflicts—armed conflicts, economic plunder by both local and foreign looters, and contested elections and loyalties to different global players and powers. Globally, there are moves towards holistic approaches to solving challenges because there is an acknowledgement of the intersectionalities that exist in our lives. Considering that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are supposed to be realised by 2030, it is apparent that SDG 16 is far from being realised in Africa. This chapter interrogates the intersectionalities between the colonial and evangelisation legacies and contemporary conflicts in Africa and their impact and demands on peacebuilding and development in Africa. Using a historical and racial justice analytical approach, this chapter argues there is an interface between the white supremacist ideology and conflicts in Africa. Further, this chapter proposes that Christian churches ought to develop systems that dismantle white supremacism because they helped entrench this ideology in Africa and peacebuilding depends on this.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abu-Nimer, M. (2001). Conflict Resolution, Culture and Religion: Toward a Training Model of Inter-religious Peacebuilding. Journal of Peace Research, 38(6), 685–704.
Amnesty International. (2021, April 7). Amnesty International: Sub-Saharan Africa: The Devastating Impact of Conflicts Compounded by COVID-19. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/04/subsaharan-africa-the-devastating-impact-of-conflicts-compounded/
Appleby, S. R. (1996). Religion as an Agent of Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding. In C. A. Crocker, F. O. Hampson, & P. Aall (Eds.), The Challenges of Managing International Conflict (pp. 821–840). United States Institute of Peace Press.
Bethke, F. S. (2012). The Consequences of Divide-and-Rule Politics in Africa south of the Sahara. Peace Economics, Peace Science and Public Policy, 18(3), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1515/peps-2012-0002
Carter, A. (2021, February 12). Antiracism in Peace-Building and Conflict Resolution. Columbia Law School Mediation Clinic. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from https://unitar.org/sites/default/files/media/file/Antiracism%20in%20Peace-Building%20and%20Conflict%20Resolution-compressed.pdf
Chenault, J. (2022). Western Christianity and the Origins of Antiblackness, Eurocentrism, and White Supremacist Ideology. Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3835 PhD Thesis, Louisville: ThinkIR: The Univ ThinkIR: The University of Louisville’s Institutional Repository. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://ir.library.louisville.edu/etd/3835/
Dolnik, A., & Butime, H. (2016). Understanding the Lord’s Resistance Army Insurgency. World Scientific.
eNCA. (2015). Who Funds Africa’s Wars and Why? George Clooney’s Money Will Reveal All. News release, Pretoria: eNCA Dstv Channel 403. Retrieved December 16, 2022, from https://www.enca.com/africa/new-clooney-project-probe-financing-african-wars
Farfan-Vallespin, A., & Bonick, M. (2016). On the Origins and Consequences of Racism. Beiträge zur Jahrestagung des Vereins für Socialpolitik 2016: Demographischer Wandel—Session: Development Economics II, No. D13-V3. Kiel and Hamburg: Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft. Retrieved November 28, 2022, from https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/145767
Fatokun, S. A. (2005). Christianity in Africa: A Historical Appraisal. Verbum et Ecclesia, 26(2), 357–368. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269965860_Christianity_in_Africa_a_historical_appraisal/link/57e24ac308ae1f0b4d958c76/download
Fellow, S., & Paige, S. (2020). Time to Decolonise Aid: Insights and Lessons from a Global Consultation. Peace Direct.
Githigaro, J. M. (2012). Faith-Based Peacebuilding: A Case Study of the National Council of Churches of Kenya. Peace and Conflict Studies, 19(1), 93–120. https://doi.org/10.46743/1082-7307/2012.1135
Gopin, M. (2000). Between Eden and Armageddon: The Future of World Religions, Violence, and Peacemaking. Oxford University Press, Inc.
Gunda, M. R. (2020). Rethinking Development in Africa and the Role of Religion. In E. Chitando, M. R. Gunda, & L. Togarasei (Eds.), Religion and Development in Africa—Exploring Religion in Africa 4 (pp. 37–57). University of Bamberg Press.
Harpviken, K. B, & Røislien, H. E. (2005). Mapping the Terrain: The Role of Religion in Peacemaking—State of the Art Paper for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. State of the Art Paper. Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved November 22, 2022, from https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/38134/2005_07_mapping_the_terrain_stateoftheartpaper__jul05_.pdf
Harris, M. (2018, June 10). Racism and White Defensiveness in Aotearoa: A Pākehā Perspective. E-Tangata: Comment and Analysis. Retrieved December 9, 2022, from https://e-tangata.co.nz/comment-and-analysis/racism-and-white-defensiveness-in-aotearoa-a-pakeha-perspective/
Kwamboka, O. K. (2014). Religion, Gender and Peacebuilding in Africa: A case study of Kenya 2007/8. Master of Arts Thesis. University of Nairobi: Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations.
Little, D., & Appleby, S. (2004). A Moment of Opportunity? The Promise of Religious Peacebuilding in an Era of Religious and Ethnic Conflict. In H. Coward & G. S. Smith (Eds.), Religion and Peacebuilding (pp. 1–23). State University of New York Press.
Mbiti, J. (1969). African Religions and Philosophy. Heinemann.
Møller, B. (2006). Religion and Conflict in Africa: With a special focus on East Africa DIIS 2006:6. Study Report. Danish Institute for International Studies, DIIS. Retrieved November 26, 2022, from www.diis.dk
Nkomazana, F. (1998). Livingstone’s Ideas of Christianity, Commerce and Civilization Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies, 12(1 & 2), 44–57. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/africanjournals/
Nyamnjoh, F. B. (2010). Africa Spectrum, 45(1), 57–93. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from www.africa-spectrum.org
Okon, E. E. (2014). Christian Missions and Colonial Rule in Africa: Objective and Contemporary Analysis. European Scientific Journal, 10(17), 192–209. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/3557/3397
Owen, M., & King, A. (2019). Enhancing the Efficacy of Religious Peacebuilding Practice: An Exploratory Evidence-Based Framework for Assessing Dominant Risks in Religious Peacebuilding. Religions, 10(641), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel10120641
Rodney, W. (1972). How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. L’ouverture.
UNESCO, African Union and Angola. (2021). Theme 3: Africa in the Face of Conflicts, Crisis and Inequality—Biennale of Luanda: Pan African Forum for the Culture and Peace. Concept Note. UNESCO. Retrieved November 28, 2022, from https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/concept_note_3_-_africa_in_the_face_of_conflicts_crisis_and_inequality.pdf
United Nations. (2015). Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development A/RES/70/1. Resolution. United Nations. Retrieved December 16, 2022, from https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/generalassembly/docs/globalcompact/A_RES_70_1_E.pdf
WCC Faith and Order Team. (2001). Nurturing Peace, Overcoming Violence: In the Way of Christ for the Sake of the World—An Invitation to a Process of Theological Study and Reflection on Peace, Justice and Reconciliation during the Decade to Overcome Violence: Churches Seeking Peace and R. Study Document. World Council of Churches. Retrieved November 26, 2022, from https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/nurturing-peace-overcoming-violence-in-the-way-of-christ-for-the-sake-of-the-world
Weaver, D. J. (2001). Violence in Christian Theology. CrossCurrents, 51(2), 150–176.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gunda, M.R. (2023). Intersectionalities: Whiteness, Religion, Peacebuilding and Development in Africa. In: Kilonzo, S.M., Chitando, E., Tarusarira, J. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Religion, Peacebuilding, and Development in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36829-5_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36829-5_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-36828-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-36829-5
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy and Religion (R0)