Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)
Inter-Faith Governance and Gendered Religious Pluralism in Côte d'Ivoire: A Comparative Analysis
Abstract
{ "background": "Religious pluralism in West Africa presents complex governance challenges, particularly regarding the inclusion of women in inter-faith leadership structures. Côte d'Ivoire, with its significant Muslim and Christian populations, serves as a critical case study where gendered dynamics within religious governance remain underexplored in the literature.", "purpose and objectives": "This study comparatively analyses the mechanisms of inter-faith governance and their impact on women's leadership across different religious traditions in Côte d'Ivoire. It aims to identify the structural and cultural factors that enable or constrain gendered religious pluralism.", "methodology": "A comparative case study design was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews with female and male religious leaders, document analysis of inter-faith council charters, and non-participant observation of governance meetings across selected urban and rural localities.", "findings": "The research found that women's formal representation in national and local inter-faith bodies remains exceptionally low, constituting less than 10% of senior positions. A key theme was the strategic use of 'maternal authority' by women to navigate informal influence within predominantly patriarchal governance systems, though this rarely translated to formal power.", "conclusion": "Formal inter-faith governance structures in Côte d'Ivoire largely replicate gendered exclusions found within individual religious traditions, thereby limiting the potential for transformative gendered pluralism. However, informal networks provide alternative avenues for women's agency.", "recommendations": "Inter-faith councils should adopt and enforce gender quotas for membership and leadership roles. Donor and policy engagement must support capacity-building programmes specifically for women aspiring to inter-faith leadership, moving beyond symbolic inclusion.", "key words": "religious pluralism, inter-faith governance, gender, leadership, West Africa, maternal authority", "contribution statement": "This paper provides a novel comparative framework for analysing gendered exclusion within inter-faith governance, introducing the concept of 'maternal authority' as a strategic, yet limited, form of agency for women
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