Professor Elliott Green joins Mauritius’ Vice-President for discussion on the country's national identity

From left to right: Professor Elliott Green, Rama Sithanen, and Dr Roukaya Kasenally

Elliott Green, Professor of Development Studies and co-Deputy Head of Department for Research in LSE's Department of International Development, recently delivered a lecture on Socialism and National Identity in Modern Africa at the University of Mauritius. A leading scholar of development, public goods provision, and ethnic and national identity formation in Africa and beyond, Professor Green's research examines how societies build shared identities while accommodating diversity.

The lecture, introduced by the Vice-President of Mauritius, Robert Hungley, brought together academics, students, policymakers and members of the wider public to discuss how national identities in Mauritius and elsewhere in Africa are created and maintained. Speaking to a capacity audience, the Vice-President reflected on the question of who belongs to the Mauritian "we" and called for a national identity rooted in justice, dignity, inclusion and recognition of the country's diverse communities. Drawing on his extensive research into nationalism and development, Professor Green then examined how socialism and left-wing ideologies are connected to national identification in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The event was followed by a roundtable discussion featuring Rama Sithanen, former Finance Minister of Mauritius and former Governor of the Bank of Mauritius, and Professor Sheila Bunwaree of the University of Mauritius. The discussion was chaired by Dr Roukaya Kasenally, while the wider event was chaired by Dr Ramola Ramtohul.

The event was covered in L'Express, one of Mauritius' leading newspapers.