Events
African Middle Classes Beyond the Buzz: Economic, Social and Political Dynamics
Paris, France
“African middle classes”, popularized by the 2011 African Development Bank report, often stand as a symbol of the economic and demographic dynamism of the continent. Their announced emergence feeds into a certain number of expectations in the economic and political spheres: growth driven by domestic demand, potential new markets, democratization, and so on. Yet, the category “African middle class” and associated interpretations must be considered carefully. In Africa, as elsewhere in the world, the notion of middle class remains controversial: consensus is lacking on both, its definition and its criteria. Polysemous, vague, and encompassing, the term can cover a wide range of socio-economic situations.
This conference aims to understand the major issues underlying the “African middle class” category and, through various case studies, provide nuanced interpretations of the ongoing socio-economic dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa.
Agenda
| 10:00 – 10:15 |
Opening Remarks - Thomas Gomart, Director, Ifri |
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10:15 – 12:15 |
Debate on African Middle Class Categories |
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Afternoon sessions: Political and Socio-Economic Realities of African Middle Classes Different case studies based on qualitative and/or quantitative methods will be addressed to understand the socio-economic realities of middle classes, as well as their economic and political practices. |
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| 14:00 – 15:30 |
Socio-Economic Dynamics: The Cases of the Ivory Coast, Morocco and Cameroon Chair Speakers |
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15:30 – 15:45 |
Coffee Break |
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15:45 – 17:15 |
African Middle Classes and their Political Practices: The Cases of South Africa and Ethiopia Simone Schotte, Research Fellow, GIGA Institute of African Affairs
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