Contextual Identity among Liberian Refugees in Ghana: Identity Salience in a Protracted Refugee Situation

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a protracted refugee situation on identity among Liberian refugees in Ghana. A strong national identity was observed among Liberians within the context of Buduburam Refugee Camp, despite previous ethnic divisions in their home country during the two Liberian civil wars. According to social identity theory, individuals may hold several identities at one time, but the expression of these identities are dependent on context. Using a grounded theory approach, I find three theoretical explanations for this phenomenon. Three identity primes heightened the salience of being Liberian. First, identity discontinuity resulting from trauma focused awareness on shared past experiences, creating a shared generational identity among residents at Buduburam. Second, a shared refugee status, and third, shared perceptions of difference between the Liberians and Ghanaians, played key roles in activating and sustaining a collective national identity among Liberian refugees in Ghana. Related Articles Related Media Buduburam. n.d. “Home for Homeless People.” http://buduburam.com/ CCTV Africa. 2014. “Liberian Refugees in Ghana.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k85CJe5JWAw

Note from the Editor

“…Another longer‐term trend has been a steadily increasing number of submissions on Sub‐Saharan African politics and policies—which reached its highest level yet in 2017 and seems set to continue. While we are particularly interested in publishing comparative international studies in the area of Sub‐Saharan Africa (see e.g., Antwi‐Boateng ; Asongu and Nwachukwu ; Nwokora and Pelizzo ), we have also published several weighty contributions dealing with individual African countries or bilateral/border issues (see e.g., Byrne ) that form a basis for future comparative studies. Our next two articles this month fall into this category.…”