Between Warrior and Helplessness in the Valley of Azawa - The struggle of the Kel Tamashek in the war of the Sahel

Author

Patrick James Christian, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Conflict Analysis & Resolution

Department

Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences

First Advisor

Howard F. Stein

Second Advisor

Ismael Muvingi

Third Advisor

Jason Campbell

Keywords

counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, ethnic and culture conflict, identity conflict, psychoanalytical anthopology, psychogeography, psychogeology, social trauma studies, Cultural Anthropology, Social Psychology, Sub Saharan Africa Studies

Abstract

This dissertation is an Investigation into the Tuareg involvement in violent conflict in the Sahara and the Sahel of North Africa from a sociological psychological perspective of unmet human needs. The research begins by establishing the structure and texture of the sociological, psychological, and emotional life patterns of their existence when not involved in violent conflict. This is followed by an examination of the pathology of Tuareg social structures that are engaged in intra and inter communal violence as perpetrators, victims, and bystanders. The first part of the research establishes normal conditions of the sociological life cycle and highlights natural areas of conflict that arise from exposure to rapid and/or external changes to their physical and social environment. The second part establishes parameters of expected damage from trauma, extended conflict, and failure to adapt to rapid environmental, social and political changes. The research methodology relies on a case study format that uses collaborative ethnography and phenomenological inquiry to answer the research questions and validate propositions made from existing literature and pre]existing research. The research questions focus on aspects of the sociological structure and failing psychological and emotional needs that are relevant to the subjectfs involvement in violent conflict. The research propositions are in part shaped from existing knowledge of tribal sociological structures that are related to the Tuareg by ethnicity, environment, and shared psycho]cultural attributes. The expected contribution of this research is the development of an alternative praxis for tribal engagement and village stability operations conducted by the United States Special Operations Command.

NSUWorks Citation

Patrick James Christian. 2015. Between Warrior and Helplessness in the Valley of Azawa - The struggle of the Kel Tamashek in the war of the Sahel. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences. (22)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd/22.