After 50 years of independence, proclaimed on the 12th of March 1968 under very unsteady conditions, Mauritius has been a paradox in the developing world with its skillful management of diversity, sustained democracy and political stability and economic success.

Despite the odds, the successive post-independence governments implemented economic policies that led to industrialization, economic diversification and development. To a certain extent, Mauritius has been able to successfully accommodate the ethnic diversity of its population through different mechanisms, including institutional provisions, political conventions and real and symbolic gestures that contributed to building a sense of belonging among the different groups.

Yet, Mauritian society and the ‘unity in diversity’ of the country remain fragile. As the 1999 riots illustrated, peace and harmony in the country can be disrupted when communities feel excluded from the fruits of development and lack of meritocracy.

The conference will focus on the Mauritian postcolonial developmental and multicultural model as well as comparative case studies/research, examining issues pertaining to quality, sustainability and challenges to democracy, social harmony and economic growth. It will also examine the management of diversity and multiculturalism, especially and what the Mauritian experience can contribute to this debate.

While the conference has a strong focus on the Mauritian model and experience, case studies and research on comparative postcolonial developmental contexts are welcome.

PANELS AND THEMES