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Crisis in Côte d’Ivoire pushed politics toward secularism

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A white-walled fortified government building with crenellated walls sits on a grassy hilltop overlooking a coastal town, with palm trees visible in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.
Research area:Social SciencesSociology and Political ScienceAfrican Studies and Ethnography

What the study found

The study finds that political crises in Côte d’Ivoire led to secularist changes in politics, especially after the 2002 armed rebellion. The authors say many politicians came to see Christian and Muslim religious leaders as people who should step back from political involvement.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors conclude that political crises can shape political secularization in sub-Saharan Africa. They also suggest that, in Côte d’Ivoire, this secularization has remained limited to politics and has not spread more broadly into society and culture.

What the researchers tested

The paper examines secularization in Côte d’Ivoire from the early 1990s through the 2020s. It is based on fieldwork and data collected between 2017 and 2020, including interviews, archival material from political parties, major newspapers, and religious organizations, as well as resources from the Pew Research Center.

What worked and what didn't

The findings indicate a political secularization process driven by politicians, especially after the 2002 crisis. The abstract says this process has not yet extended beyond the political sphere into broader society and culture.

What to keep in mind

The available summary does not describe detailed limitations or counterarguments. The abstract also indicates that the study focuses on Côte d’Ivoire and on political secularization, so its scope is limited to that setting and theme.

Key points

  • Political crises in Côte d’Ivoire are presented as a driver of political secularization.
  • After the 2002 armed rebellion, many politicians wanted religious leaders to step back from politics.
  • The secularization described in the abstract is confined to the political sphere.
  • The study uses fieldwork, interviews, archival materials, and Pew Research Center resources.
  • The paper covers developments from the early 1990s through the 2020s.

Disclosure

Research title:
Crisis in Côte d’Ivoire pushed politics toward secularism
Authors:
Jacques Michel Ngimbous
Institutions:
Boston College
Publication date:
2026-02-06
DOI:
10.1017/s1755048326100273
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by gpt-5.4-mini (OpenAI). The original authors did not write or review this post.