LEADER 05218nam 22005775 450 001 9910865232403321 005 20250807153049.0 010 $a9783031598074$b(electronic bk.) 010 $z9783031598067 024 7 $a10.1007/978-3-031-59807-4 035 $a(MiAaPQ)EBC31369968 035 $a(Au-PeEL)EBL31369968 035 $a(CKB)32238789800041 035 $a(DE-He213)978-3-031-59807-4 035 $a(OCoLC)1438669759 035 $a(EXLCZ)9932238789800041 100 $a20240604d2024 u| 0 101 0 $aeng 135 $aurcnu|||||||| 181 $ctxt$2rdacontent 182 $cc$2rdamedia 183 $acr$2rdacarrier 200 10$aOccult Rumors and Politics in Ghana $eJuju and Statecraft /$fby Comfort Max-Wirth 205 $a1st ed. 2024. 210 1$aCham :$cSpringer Nature Switzerland :$cImprint: Palgrave Macmillan,$d2024. 215 $a1 online resource (215 pages) 311 08$aPrint version: Max-Wirth, Comfort Occult Rumors and Politics in Ghana Cham : Springer International Publishing AG,c2024 9783031598067 327 $aChapter one: Introduction -- Ghana, Religion, and Politics -- The Occult in Postcolonial Africa -- Methodological Considerations -- Chapter Outline -- Chapter Two: History And Evolution Of The Occult In Ghana -- Introduction -- Indigenous Religion in Precolonial Ghana -- Colonial Formulation of the Occult -- Missionary Formulation of the Occult -- Pentecostal Formulation of the Occult -- Contemporary Perceptions about the Occult in Ghana -- Conclusions -- Chapter Three: The Socio-Political Significance Of Rumors In Ghana -- What is Rumor? -- Rumor, Religion, and the Occult -- Rumor and Politics -- Rumors as ?Weapons of the Weak? -- Conclusions -- Chapter Four: The Socio-Political Significance Of Rumors In Ghana -- Versatility of the Occult as a Spiritual Resource -- Negative Pentecostal Narrative on the Occult -- Claims Made by Occult Ritual Specialists -- ?Strange? Happenings -- Conclusions -- Chapter Five: Cynicism Towards Political-Occult Rumors -- Cynicism Towards Politics in General -- Occult Rumors and the Media -- Political Alignment -- Politicians? Public Image -- Conclusions -- Chapter Six: Political Utilization Of The Occult: Avoiding The Occult -- Associating with Pentecostals -- Moral and Spiritual Backwardness of the Occult -- Deflecting Responsibility and Avoiding Criticism -- Conclusions -- Chapter Seven: Political Utilization Of The Occult: Embracing The Occult -- Embracing Positive Characteristics of the Occult -- Embracing the Occult for Political Advantage -- Conclusions -- Chapter Eight: Conclusion. 330 $a?An original and thrilling tale of the history and complexity of religion and politics in Africa. Max-Wirth uncovers the deep connections between religious occult rumors and civil life in Ghana. This brilliantly written and meticulously researched book establishes Max-Wirth as an important voice in African Studies, Political Science, and Religious Studies. This work is thought provoking and transformative in the way that it treats religion, ethics, and politics in a nuanced and well-balanced scholarly method.? ?Jacob K. Olupona, Harvard University This book addresses the phenomenon of rumors about the occult in contemporary Ghanaian politics. Drawing on data from fieldwork interviews and analysis of case studies, it examines: why political rumors in Ghana often focus on the occult; what political-occult rumors accomplish and for whom; the ways in which Ghanaian politicians use rumors about the occult to gain political advantage; and some of the popular attitudes of the electorate to the rumors. The book demonstrates that political-occult rumors have become important tools in the hands of Ghanaian politicians to gain political advantage over opponents, and the electorate as means to critique the actions and behavior of political actors and the political process, generally. In a nutshell, this book highlights the important role of occult rumors in modern Ghanaian politics, with a particular focus on the period between the late 1970s and present. The main thrust of the argument in this book is that the flourishing of political-occult rumors and the strength of Pentecostalism are related, and that far from being a phenomenon existing on the margins of modern Ghanaian society, the occult is powerful, public and mainstream. Comfort Max-Wirth is a lecturer in the Department for the Study of Religions at the University of Ghana, Legon. 606 $aAfrica$xReligion 606 $aAfrica$xPolitics and government 606 $aEthnology$zAfrica 606 $aCulture 606 $aAfrican Religions 606 $aAfrican Politics 606 $aAfrican Culture 615 0$aAfrica$xReligion. 615 0$aAfrica$xPolitics and government. 615 0$aEthnology 615 0$aCulture. 615 14$aAfrican Religions. 615 24$aAfrican Politics. 615 24$aAfrican Culture. 676 $a320.9667 700 $aMax-Wirth$b Comfort$01743018 801 0$bMiAaPQ 801 1$bMiAaPQ 801 2$bMiAaPQ 912 $a9910865232403321 996 $aOccult Rumors and Politics in Ghana$94169750 997 $aUNINA