“Haratin in Mauritania”: To What Extent Does Social Origin Determine Opportunities for Social Mobility and Status Change?

Abstract

This paper examines the marginalized Haratin people of Mauritania, utilizing a sociological approach grounded in the paradigms of social mobility. For decades, the Haratin social group has been at the center of political and human rights debates. This paper underscores the variables that govern social hierarchy within Mauritanian society and argues that these variables reinforce their deeprooted historical structures. Consequently, opportunities are pre-programmed and lack equity, highlighting the pivotal role of social origin in determining social mobility.