Dispatch No.

197 |11 April 2018

Role of citizen: Mauritians value national

identity but limit civic engagement
Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 197 | Louis Amedee Darga

Summary
The Constitution of Mauritius grants citizens certain fundamental rights, including the right to
be free and protected by the law, freedom of conscience, freedom of association, freedom
of movement and of opinion, freedom to express themselves, freedom of religious belief, and
the right to private property (Constitution of Mauritius, 1968).
With the exception of a five-year state of emergency in the 1970s, Mauritius has been a
democracy since independence. While the rights to public protests and to worker strikes are
framed by regulatory instruments, Mauritians have enjoyed a wide degree of freedom to
associate, to express themselves, and to engage in civic action as they wish.
However, Mauritius’ public space has long been marked by two elements that may affect
whether Mauritians claim their rights and responsibilities as citizens to the fullest extent. One is
a strong tradition of clientelism and patronage (Darga, 1998) in terms of public-sector
employment, promotion, licensing, and contracting, which can make Mauritians wary of
expressing themselves freely. The other is a pervasive awareness of ethnicity in political
competition.
How do Mauritians see their role as citizens? According to the latest Afrobarometer survey,
Mauritians express a strong sense of national identity but are unlikely to participate in political
and civic activities, and most do not feel completely free to say what they think.

Afrobarometer survey
Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that conducts public attitude
surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues in African
countries. Six rounds of surveys were conducted in up to 37 countries between 1999 and
2015, and Round 7 surveys are being conducted in 2016/2018. Afrobarometer conducts
face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with nationally
representative samples.
The Afrobarometer team in Mauritius, led by StraConsult Ltd, interviewed 1,200 adult
Mauritians in October 2017. A sample of this size yields country-level results with a margin of
error of +/-3% at a 95% confidence level. Previous surveys were conducted in Mauritius in
2012 and 2014.

Key findings

 Nearly nine out of 10 Mauritians say their national identity is at least as important to
them as their ethnic-group identity.
 But most Mauritians do not engage in civic and political activities, such as taking an
active role in religious or community groups, attending community meetings, joining

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 with others to raise an issue, contacting elected officials, or participating in election
campaigns.
 More than seven in 10 respondents say people “often” or “always” have to be
careful about what they say about politics (71%) – a sharp increase from 57% in 2014 –
as well as which political organizations they join (71%) and how they vote (73%).
 About three in 10 Mauritians say freedom of speech and press freedom have
declined compared to a few years ago.

Ethnic or national identity?

For almost nine out of 10 Mauritians, their national identity is at least as strong as their ethnic
identity. Almost two-thirds (63%) say they “feel equally Mauritian and (a member of their
ethnic group)”; in addition, 18% say they “feel only Mauritian,” and 6% say they “feel more
Mauritian” than ethnic (Figure 1). Only one in 10 say they feel only (4%) or more (4%) a
member of their ethnic group.
Looking at those for whom their national identity outweighs their ethnic identity, men (28%)
are more likely than women (21%) to say they feel “only Mauritian” or “more Mauritian than
(ethnic group)” (Figure 2). Young adults are slightly more likely to feel this way (29% among
those aged 26-35) than other age groups.

Figure 1: Ethnic or national identity? | Mauritius | 2017

I feel only Mauritian 18%

I feel more Mauritian than (ethnic

6%
group)

I feel equally Mauritian and

63%
(ethnic group)

I feel more (ethnic group) than

4%
Mauritian

I feel only (ethnic group) 4%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Respondents were asked: Let us suppose that you had to choose between being a Mauritian and
being a _______ [respondent’s ethnic group]. Which of the following statements best expresses your
feelings?

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Figure 2: Feel only or more Mauritian | by gender, residency location, and age
group | Mauritius | 2017

Men 28%
Women 21%

Urban 25%
Rural 23%

18-25 years 25%

26-35 years 29%
36-45 years 23%
46-55 years 24%
56-65 years 23%
65+ years 22%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

(Figure shows % who say they “feel more Mauritian” or “feel only Mauritian”)

Participation in civic and political activities

Religious and community organizations

Most Mauritians are not active in religious or community groups. Only two in 10 citizens are
active members or leaders of religious groups that meet outside of regular worship services
(11%) or other voluntary associations or community groups (9%) (Figure 3).
Men are twice as likely as women to be part of religious groups (15% vs. 7%) (Figure 4).
Religious groups are somewhat more popular among older citizens than other kinds of
associations or community groups.

Figure 3: Participation in civil-society organizations | Mauritius | 2017

A religious group that meets outside of

76% 13% 10% 1%
regular worship services

Some other voluntary association or

81% 9% 8% 1%
community group

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Not a member Inactive member Active member Leader

Respondents were asked: Now I am going to read out a list of groups that people join or attend. For
each one, could you tell me whether you are an official leader, an active member, an inactive
member, or not a member?
- A religious group that meets outside of regular worship services?
- Some other voluntary association or community group?

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Figure 4: Participation in civil-society organizations | by gender, residency location,
and age | Mauritius | 2017

Men 10%
15%
Women 7%
7%

Urban 8%
10%
Rural 9%
12%

18-25 years 9%
8%
26-35 years 9%
9%
36-45 years 8%
11%
46-55 years 9%
11%
56-65 years 10%
16%
65+ years 7%
12%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Voluntary association or community group Religious group

Respondents were asked: Now I am going to read out a list of groups that people join or attend. For
each one, could you tell me whether you are an official leader, an active member, an inactive
member, or not a member? (% who say “active member” or “official leader”)

Civic actions
Most Mauritians did not attend a community meeting or get together with others to raise an
issue during the year preceding the survey (Figure 5). In fact, almost half (49% and 48%,
respectively) say they would never do so, while 21% and 28%, respectively, say they would do
so if they had the chance. Only 30% say they attended at least one community meeting
during the preceding year, while 24% say they got together with others at least once to raise
an issue.1
Men are more likely than women to attend community meetings (36% vs. 24%) and to get
together with others to raise an issue (28% vs. 20%) (Figure 6). Likewise, rural residents are
more active than urbanites when it comes to attending community meetings (35% vs. 23%)
and joining others to raise an issue (27% vs. 20%).
One-third (35%) of respondents aged 56-65 say they attended a community meeting during
the previous year – more than any other age group. Citizens with no formal education are
least likely to attend a community meeting (13%) or get together with others to raise an issue
(6%).

1
Due to rounding, percentages for combined categories may differ by 1 percentage point from the sum of
component categories.

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Figure 5: Civic actions | Mauritius | 2017

Attended a community meeting 49% 21% 17% 8%5%

Got together with others to raise an issue 48% 28% 12% 6%5%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

No, would never do this No, but would do if had the chance
Yes, once or twice Yes, several times
Yes, often

Respondents were asked: Here is a list of actions that people sometimes take as citizens. For each of
these, please tell me whether you, personally, have done any of these things during the past year. If
not, would you do this if you had the chance?

Figure 6: Civic actions | by gender, residency location, age, and education level
| Mauritius | 2017

Men 36%
28%
Women 24%
20%

Urban 23%
20%
Rural 35%
27%

18-25 years 24%

23%
26-35 years 28%
20%
36-45 years 32%
24%
46-55 years 30%
25%
56-65 years 35%
28%
65+ years 30%
22%

No formal education 13%

6%
Primary 36%
25%
Secondary 29%
23%
Post-secondary 25%
24%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Attended a community meeting Joined with others to raise an issue

Respondents were asked: Here is a list of actions that people sometimes take as citizens. For each of
these, please tell me whether you, personally, have done any of these things during the past year. If
not, would you do this if you had the chance? (% who say "once or twice, "several times," or "often")

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Participation in election campaigns
Only small minorities of Mauritians say they attended a campaign rally (15%) or worked for a
candidate or party (8%) during the last national elections in 2014 (Figure 7). But 76% say they
voted in the 2014 elections.

Figure 7: Participation in 2014 national elections | Mauritius | 2017

100% 92%
84%
80%

60%

40%

20% 15%
8%
0%
Attended a campaign rally Worked for a candidate or party

No Yes

Respondents were asked: Thinking about the last national election in 2014, did you: Attend a campaign
rally? Work for a candidate or party?

Contact with officials to discuss problems

About one in four Mauritians say they contacted an official of a government agency (26%)
or a religious leader (26%) during the previous year to discuss an important problem or give
them their views (Figure 8). Fewer contacted a municipal or district councillor (18%), a
political party official (15%), or a member of the National Assembly (11%) about a problem or
to share their opinions.

Figure 8: Contact with officials | Mauritius | 2017

A member of the National Assembly 89% 5%3% 2%

A political party official 85% 7%5% 2%

A municipal or district councillor 82% 8% 8% 2%

Religious leaders 74% 8% 9% 9%

An official of a government agency 74% 12% 10%4%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Never Only once A few times Often

Respondents were asked: During the past year, how often have you contacted any of the following
persons about some important problem or to give them your views?

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Actions when dissatisfied with government performance
A majority of Mauritians say they “would never” engage in certain lawful citizen actions to
express dissatisfaction with the government’s performance (Figure 9). About one in six (16%)
say they contacted a government official during the previous year to ask for help or make a
complaint, and one in 10 or fewer say they joined others in the community to request action
from the government (10%); contacted the media, such as calling a radio program or writing
a letter to a newspaper (8%); participated in a demonstration or protest march (6%); or
refused to pay a tax or fee to the government (3%) to voice their displeasure.

Figure 9: Actions to express dissatisfaction with government performance

| Mauritius | 2017

Refused to pay a tax or fee to

84% 9% 1% 1%
government

Participated in a demonstration or protest

70% 22% 4% 2%
march

Joined others in the community to request

57% 32% 6% 4%
action from government

Contacted the media, like calling a radio

program or writing a letter to a 56% 35% 5% 2%
newspaper

Contacted a government official to ask

50% 33% 12% 4%
for help or make a complaint

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

No, would never do this No, but would do if had the chance
Yes, once or twice Yes, several times or often

Respondents were asked: Here is a list of actions that people sometimes take as citizens when they are
dissatisfied with government performance. For each of these, please tell me whether you, personally,
have done any of these things during the past year. If not, would you do this if you had the chance?

Caution regarding political involvement

If most Mauritians do not engage in civic and political activities, one reason may be a
widespread feeling that political rights are constrained. Almost three-fourths (71%) of
respondents say that people “often” or “always” have to be careful about what they say
about politics – a 14-percentage-point increase from 2014. Seven in 10 respondents also say
that people must “often” or “always” be careful about which political organizations they join
(71%) and how they vote (73%) (Figure 10).
Caution regarding joining political organizations is most common among young respondents
(aged 18-25 years) and increases with education level, ranging from 59% among those with
no formal education to more than 70% among those with at least a secondary education
(Figure 11). For more on Mauritians’ perceptions of their democracy, please see
Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 185.)

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Figure 10: Political involvement | Mauritius | 2017

Have to be careful about what you

24% 71%
say about politics

Have to be careful about which

25% 71%
political organizations you join

Have to be careful about how you

24% 73%
vote

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Never/Rarely Often/Always

Respondents were asked: In your opinion, how often, in this country, do people have to:
- Be careful of what they say about politics?
- Be careful about which political organizations they join?
- Be careful about how they vote in an election?

Figure 11: People have to be careful about which political organizations they join
| by age and education | Mauritius | 2017

18-25 years 76%

26-35 years 71%
36-45 years 71%
46-55 years 68%
56+ years 71%

No formal education 59%

Primary 68%
Secondary 73%
Post-secondary 72%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Respondents were asked: In your opinion, how often, in this country, do people have to be careful
about which political organizations they join? (% who say “often” or “always”)

Moreover, sizeable minorities of Mauritians say their political freedoms have eroded over the
past few years. About three in 10 (31%) say citizens now have “somewhat less” or “much less”
freedom to say what they think about politics, while 21% say they have “somewhat more” or
“much more” freedom and 43% believe little has changed (Figure 12).
Mauritians are evenly divided in their view of press freedom: Three in 10 (30%) say the media
has less freedom than a few years ago to investigate and criticize government actions, while
about the same proportions believe that media freedom has increased (31%) or stayed the
same (33%).
Views on the evolution of other political rights are similarly divided, including the freedom to
join any political organization (26% somewhat/much less) and the space for independent
organizations and opposition parties to speak, hold meetings, and advocate their views (23%
and 19%, respectively, somewhat/much less).

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Figure 12: Trends in political freedoms | Mauritius | 2017

Freedom to say what you think about

31% 43% 21%
politics
Media’s freedom to investigate and
report on government mistakes or criticize 30% 33% 31%
government actions
Freedom to join any political organization
26% 46% 23%
you want
Freedom of independent groups to
speak, hold meetings, criticize the 23% 41% 28%
government
Freedom of opposition to speak, hold
19% 44% 30%
rallies, criticize the government

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Somewhat/Much less freedom Same Somewhat/Much more freedom

Respondents were asked: Please tell me if there is more or less freedom now for each of the following
things compared to a few years ago, or are things about the same?
- Your own freedom to say what you think about politics?
- Your own freedom to join any political organization you want?
- The media’s freedom to investigate and report on government mistakes or to criticize government
actions or performance?
- The freedom of independent groups or non-governmental organizations to speak, hold meetings,
or advocate their views freely, including criticizing the government if they choose?
- The freedom of opposition parties or candidates to speak or hold rallies, state their views, or
criticize the government?

Conclusion
While Mauritians value their national identity, most do not fully assume their role as citizens by
engaging in civic and political activities. Women, urban residents, and those without formal
education are less likely than men, rural residents, and the better-educated to participate in
civic activities such as attending community meetings and joining with others to raise an
issue. Moreover, most Mauritians say they have to be careful about voicing their political
opinions and joining political organizations.

Do your own analysis of Afrobarometer data – on any question,

for any country and survey round. It’s easy and free at
www.afrobarometer.org/online-data-analysis.

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References
Constitution of Mauritius. (1968). Available at http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---
ed_protect/---protrav/---ilo_aids/documents/legaldocument/wcms_126778.pdf.
Darga, L. A. (1998). Mauritius: Governance challenges in sustained democracy in a plural society.
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/cafrad/unpan008595.pdf.

Louis Amedee Darga is the managing partner of StraConsult Ltd, the Afrobarometer national
partner in Mauritius. Email: straconsult@intnet.mu.
Afrobarometer is produced collaboratively by social scientists from more than 30 African
countries. Coordination is provided by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) in
Ghana, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) in South Africa, the Institute for
Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Nairobi in Kenya, and the Institute for Empirical
Research in Political Economy (IREEP) in Benin. Michigan State University (MSU) and the
University of Cape Town (UCT) provide technical support to the network.
Financial support for Afrobarometer Round 7 has been provided by the Swedish International
Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, the Open Society
Foundations, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation,
the U.S. State Department, the National Endowment for Democracy, and Transparency
International.
Donations help the Afrobarometer Project give voice to African citizens. Please consider
making a contribution (at www.afrobarometer.org) or contact Aba Kittoe
(akittoe@afrobarometer.org) to discuss institutional funding.
For more information, please visit www.afrobarometer.org.
/Afrobarometer @Afrobarometer

Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 197 | 11 April 2018

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