L’interprétation idéologique du concept de “rattrapage ethnique” dans la presse écrite des partis politiques en Côte d’Ivoire (2011 à 2015)

Abstract

This paper examines how the press organs of the mainstream political parties in Cote d’Ivoire, namely the Rassemblement des Républicains (the Rally of the Republicans - RDR) and the Front Populaire Ivoirien (the Ivorian Popular Front - FPI) apprehended the concept of rattrapage ethnique (ethnic favoritism)between 2002 and 2015. Specifically, this contribution addresses the ideological underpinnings and the political issues contained in the newspaper articles of the press organs belonging to the aforementioned political parties. Three main trends have emerged from the co-occurrence analysis. Ethnic favoritism is mentioned in the newspapers supporting the FPI in the sense of denouncing social inequalities and bad governance. Whereas le Patriote, a newspaper supporting the ruling party (RDR) relates the issue to positive discrimination aiming at correcting some past inequalities. As for the newspapers closed to PDCI, they hold an ambivalent stance between the FPI’s position and that of the RDR.