The ethnical diversity in the republic of Benin/Africa

advantages and disadventages to the territorial development

Abstract

This academic article had as goal to study the identity issue in the territorial development process in Benin, a multiethnic country as most of African countries, in which the polarization of the identity, whose ethnicity and regionalism are structuring elements of the sociopolitical action in this country. The theoretic base of this research is anchored in the concepts of diversity, ethnicity and development. As methodology, this study is a qualitative approach, of descriptive nature and the data collect was given by documental analysis. The Beninese constitution of December 12th 1990, reaffirms the unitary nature of the country, demanding the society’s integration in its triple identity (ethnic, regional, national). However, the ethnic diversity, although benefic, is still a source of problems within the community. Thus, in terms of territorial development in Benin, this article, highlighting the favorable factors of this diversity, also presents its limits proposing possible solutions to a more beneficial sociotechnical diversity to the country.

Keywords: Culture. Identity. Diversity. Ethnicity. Development.