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Gang leader, freedom fighter, both, or neither? A qualitative content analysis of Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier's anti-elite rhetoric in 2023 and 2024 amidst political turmoil in Haiti

Stoméus, Samuel LU (2024) FKVK02 20241
Department of Political Science
Abstract (Swedish)
This paper analyzes the use of populist rhetoric by armed groups as a means to portray themselves as a political actor, focusing on Viv Ansanm-spokesperson Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier’s anti-elite discourse in 2023 and 2024 through a qualitative content analysis. This is achieved through building on existing literature discussing limits of Haitian statehood as well as the historical role of non-state armed groups in filling this gap. The theory of discursive populism is employed to contextualize the findings, filtering the empirical data through a larger perspective. This paper reaches the conclusion that Chérizier’s rhetoric helps construct a political identity on the basis of delegitimizing mainstream political actors by juxtaposing the... (More)
This paper analyzes the use of populist rhetoric by armed groups as a means to portray themselves as a political actor, focusing on Viv Ansanm-spokesperson Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier’s anti-elite discourse in 2023 and 2024 through a qualitative content analysis. This is achieved through building on existing literature discussing limits of Haitian statehood as well as the historical role of non-state armed groups in filling this gap. The theory of discursive populism is employed to contextualize the findings, filtering the empirical data through a larger perspective. This paper reaches the conclusion that Chérizier’s rhetoric helps construct a political identity on the basis of delegitimizing mainstream political actors by juxtaposing the political and economic elite with the common people and historical ideals of the Haitian nation. Furthermore, the ongoing violence and structural challenges that millions of Haitians are facing are in broad terms are attributed to an elaborate plan of transnational elites to exploit the country for personal gain, whilst Chérizier and the Viv Ansanm-alliance are portrayed as a group of resistance on behalf of the disadvantaged population. This may mark a substantial shift in Haitian politics where non-state armed groups seek to identify with an ideology to politicize their reputation and thereby further their operations through legal channels. (Less)
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author
Stoméus, Samuel LU
supervisor
organization
course
FKVK02 20241
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Haiti, discursive populism, non-state armed groups, gang violence
language
English
id
9171138
date added to LUP
2024-10-01 11:26:21
date last changed
2024-10-01 11:26:21
@misc{9171138,
  abstract     = {{This paper analyzes the use of populist rhetoric by armed groups as a means to portray themselves as a political actor, focusing on Viv Ansanm-spokesperson Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier’s anti-elite discourse in 2023 and 2024 through a qualitative content analysis. This is achieved through building on existing literature discussing limits of Haitian statehood as well as the historical role of non-state armed groups in filling this gap. The theory of discursive populism is employed to contextualize the findings, filtering the empirical data through a larger perspective. This paper reaches the conclusion that Chérizier’s rhetoric helps construct a political identity on the basis of delegitimizing mainstream political actors by juxtaposing the political and economic elite with the common people and historical ideals of the Haitian nation. Furthermore, the ongoing violence and structural challenges that millions of Haitians are facing are in broad terms are attributed to an elaborate plan of transnational elites to exploit the country for personal gain, whilst Chérizier and the Viv Ansanm-alliance are portrayed as a group of resistance on behalf of the disadvantaged population. This may mark a substantial shift in Haitian politics where non-state armed groups seek to identify with an ideology to politicize their reputation and thereby further their operations through legal channels.}},
  author       = {{Stoméus, Samuel}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Gang leader, freedom fighter, both, or neither? A qualitative content analysis of Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier's anti-elite rhetoric in 2023 and 2024 amidst political turmoil in Haiti}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}