Date of Award

Spring 5-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Political Science & Geography

Program/Concentration

Graduate Program in International studies

Committee Director

Peter Schulman

Committee Member

Elizabeth C. Black

Committee Member

Elizabeth Ann Fretwell

Abstract

The Civil War conflict between Anglophones and Francophones, also known as the Ambazonia war, is a long-standing issue that continues to plague the people living in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon. This paper explores the colonial history of the nation, the cause of the ongoing conflict, the reasons for its escalation, and how it gave rise to the Ambazonian separatists who want to have a separate nation called the Ambazonia Republic.

This study contributes to conflict understanding in two ways. First, it sheds light on the cultural and economic impacts of internally generated crises in a country. Second, it identifies perspectives on the conflict in order to provide possible solutions to this conflict. This paper explores the causes of and the core reasons behind the Anglophone and the Francophone crisis by investigating both sides of the dispute through a dual perspective approach from both the Anglophone and Francophone factions, with the aim of conflict resolution.

This research uses a historical methodology to examine the past through a qualitative analysis approach. The causes of the civil conflict will be determined with the aid of interviews, narratives, and personal experiences. Interviews conducted on both sides of the conflict using selected questions will highlight the contributing factors and barriers preventing resolution, the individuals, groups, or key actors/politicians capable of resolving the conflict, as well as those perpetuating the conflict, and their motivations.

Based on the findings, both parties involved in the conflict are open to dialogue and restitution for the marginalized party, in this case, the Anglophones.

The future implications of this work include opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue that may help ease tensions and foster communication among the Francophone and Anglophone communities. This work provides an alternative to governmental approaches to crises and protests while highlighting the need for dialogue to create space for listening and understanding. It demonstrates the importance of negotiation toward reaching a middle ground and compromise, including the necessity for restitution to attain conflict resolution.

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DOI

10.25777/7nkp-js77

ISBN

9798379739027

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