Jean-François Bayart

Jean-François Bayart is a French political scientist and scholar known for his work on politics, power, and identity, especially in Africa and post-colonial states. He explores how governments and societies shape and manipulate concepts like nationalism, ethnicity, and statehood to maintain authority. His analyses often focus on how political leaders use cultural and symbolic tools to legitimize control and navigate complex social dynamics. Bayart's work helps us understand the deep-rooted mechanisms behind political power and the importance of cultural identity in shaping state and society interactions.