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Madagascar

Madagascar is an island in the Indian Ocean, near Southern Africa and east of Mozambique. The world's fourth-largest island, Madagascar's natural resources include graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, and hydropower. The official languages of the 22,585,517 residents are French and Malagasy. 52% of Madagascar's people hold indigenous beliefs, while 41% are Christian and 7% are Muslim. The nation gained independence from France in June 1960. In 2009, the presidency was conferred to Andry Rajoelina, the mayor of Madagascar's capital. Numerous attempts have been made by regional and international organizations to resolve the subsequent political gridlock by forming a power-sharing government. As of late 2011, Rajoelina has appointed a new cabinet, and the country appears to be moving towards new elections sometime in 2012.

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  Gillian Feeley-Harnik

  Kathleen Gough Profesor, Anthropology

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  Gabrielle Hecht

  Professor, History

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  Conrad Kottak

  Professor, Anthropology

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  Ronald Nussbaum

  Professor, Zoology
  Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  Associate Director and Curator, U-M Museum of Zoology

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  Mark Tessler

  Vice Provost, International Affairs
  Samuel J. Eldersveld Collegiate Professor, Political Science
  Director, International Institute
  Research Professor, Center for Political Studies

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  Henry T. Wright

  Professor, Anthropology