Autocrats’ modes of exit, rents and crisis in Africa
October 2010
Studies analyzing dictators’ duration in power do not generally distinguish the way through which rulers are booted out. In consequence, a destabilizing effect is attributed to some variables without specifying and testing the mechanisms through which this effect may operate. In this paper, we argue that ‘regular’ leadership changes stem from the incumbent’s incapacity to thwart elite defection...
Who's who: Transnational corporations and nation states interface over the theoretical shift into their relationship
June 2010
The complex relationships that occur between countries, market and private actors have been simplified in theoretical approaches such as realism, neo-liberalism and globalization. However, their relationship is not a zero-sum game but one of ‘complex governance’ where all actors have to be considered to understand the changes in the international system. Key words: Trans-national...
Democracy and good governance: Nigeria’s dilemma
June 2010
Despite its enormous resources and huge potentialities, Nigeria remains grossly undeveloped. Consequently, political instability, abject poverty, acute youth unemployment, heightened crime rate, poor health prospects and widespread malnourishment have been the main features of Nigeria’s political economy. The development tragedy in Nigeria fits into the trends of political instability for which Africa has become...
Rural-urban migration of young persons from selected conflict ridden communities in Rivers State: A sociological approach
June 2010
Migration could be voluntary or involuntary. The paper examines the involuntary movement of young persons or child labour (youth) from conflict communities of Ogbogoro, Ogbakiri, Rumuekpe and Rumuolumeni, in Rivers State. The techniques deplored are the interview and focus group discussion (FGD) methods in collecting data. The theoretical framework is hinged on the Marxist political economy theory. Its focus is on the...
The role of opposition in Nigerian politics
June 2010
In a political and truly democratic endeavour, the foundational basis for balance leads to the horizontal separation of powers rather than any vertical formulation of any kind of corruption of this pragmatic ethos. Central to this balance in government is that of the expression of opposition on a parallel political level. This paper delves into the nature, both legal and philosophical, of opposition in politics...
The performance of the Malawi Congress Party in general elections: The role of sectionalism of a regional and ethnic nature
June 2010
In this article, an attempt has been made to explain the performance of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) in the general elections by focusing mainly on the 2009 presidential and parliamentary elections in which the MCP lost overwhelmingly. Specifically, the role of sectionalism of a regional and ethnic nature on the MCP’s national level performance was examined. Different kinds of data from the Malawi electoral...
Contextualizing "Muridiyyah" within the American muslim community: Perspectives on the past, present and future
June 2010
This paper examines the presence of the West African Sufi order, known as the Muridiyyah, within the broader context of muslims in America. The advent of the Murids in the American muslim community has not been the object of much research. This paper draws on the historical experience of the American muslim community in order to situate the Muridiyyah within these temporal and spatial parameters. Based on analyzing...
U. S. foreign policymaking toward Ethiopia and Somalia (1974 - 1980)
June 2010
The US policy in the Horn of Africa during the 1970’s was marked by the constraints posed by the international environment. The twin pillar policy formulated by the Nixon and Kissinger administration and later by the Ford administration was continued in its basic purposes by the Carter administration*. However, Carter’s policy major shift in 1979 – 1980 was not marked by the Soviet support for Ethiopia...
Satisfaction with democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Assessing the effects of system performance
May 2010
This paper examines the relationship between system performance and satisfaction with democracy in sub-Saharan African countries. On the basis of comparable survey data from the third round of Afrobarometer from 2005, we have assessed a number of economic and political performance indicators. In doing this, we employ an elaborate theoretical framework and multilevel analysis. The results show that system performance is...
Social capital, indigeneity and identity politics: The Jos crisis in perspective
May 2010
The thrust of the paper is to critically examine how the concept of social capital can be a useful tool in the building and advancement of peace, community trust, cooperation and access to justice in conflict-torn environments like Nigeria; that is, social capital to serve as a mechanism to mediate and/or moderate the inter and intra-communal conflicts and enhance the capacity of the Nigerian state to pursue and promote...
The dialectics of reform: The theory and methodological praxis of reform
May 2010
From a purely theoretical perspective, this article explored the concept of reform which is usually taken for granted. It built a typology of the concept in terms of content, context, scope, cause, strategies, actors, outcome, etc. with the simple objective of providing a suitable conceptual framework for evaluating social, economic and political reforms in an operationally useful manner. Using this typology, the...
Political parties and the prospects of democratic consolidation in Nigeria: 1999 - 2006
May 2010
The existence of vibrant political parties is a sine qua non for democratic consolidation in any polity. In Nigeria’s First and Second Republics, political parties were regionally based, and their activities led to the collapse of those experiments. This paper explores an important aspect of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic politics, which is about the role of the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) in general and...
Challenges of technology mediated approach to counselling in the National Open University of Nigeria
April 2010
The main thrust of this paper is to identify impediments militating against the provision of quality guidance and counselling services through technologically mediated approach in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). The current trend all over the world points on how transformation of counselling from mechanical phases to digital phases, which will enhances quick and quality service delivery. NOUN as...
Foreign aid, the Third World’s debt crisis and the implication for economic development: The Nigerian experience
April 2010
The nature of interdependence of nations necessitates granting of aid to needy countries. Theorists, however, vary in their approaches of the factors that contributed to the development of the underdevelopment of the Third World. While the bourgeois scholars argued that the underdevelopment and dependency situation of the Third World was due to the internal contradictions of this group of countries arising from bad...
Political culture as a source of political instability: The case of Lesotho
April 2010
This article considers Lesotho’s political history and culture, a political history characterised by rebellious chiefs who had rejected Christianity and who were heavily armed and fought numerous wars against their black and white neighbours. Its argument is that the state’s dysfunctionality in small Lesotho is a result of a political culture and history of armed resistance, producing rebellious political...
U.S. development diplomacy in Africa: From Bill Clinton to George W. Bush
April 2010
By means of descriptive approach and content-analysis of documentary sources collected from two U.S embassies in Africa (Lagos and Pretoria), the article examines the U.S development diplomacy in Africa during the Clinton years and the early directions of George W. Bush’s policy toward Africa. The article is broadly divided into three sections. The first part deals with introduction, motivation and methodology....
Ghanaian opinions on democracy, inter-communal violence and conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa
April 2010
This survey research explores and presents the opinions of people in Ghana on several key areas: democracy and inter-communal violence, conflict in sub-Saharan Africa, Kenyan electoral violence during December 2007/February 2008 and salient issues and problems in Ghana. The study drawing on 407 participants reveal the following: A preference for representative democracy, agreement that there is no perfect electoral...
The effects of leadership strategies on underdevelopment in sub-Saharan Africa: A comparative perspective
March 2010
This article looks at the impact of leadership strategies on underdevelopment in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in a comparative perspective. Using survey data from the World Bank, the Afrobarometer and the freedom house index, it refutes the conventional developmental argument, demonstrating that the effect of economic growth on poverty reduction is more balanced than usually recognized. It also shows that even though SSA...
China’s foray into Africa: Ideational underpinnings and geoeconomic interests
March 2010
China’s new foreign policy stance in Africa is a marked departure from its previous emphasis on purely ideational principles designed to strengthen its standing as a supporter of the Third World. The ideational affinity with Africa has not changed in China’s foreign policy discourse, but the new emphasis is on an aggressive pursuit of its geoeconomic and geopolitical interests on the continent, marked by an...
Multiparty politics dynamics in Uganda
March 2010
In liberal democracy, it is obvious political parties play a critical role in deepening democratic process. Besides, providing veritable avenue for popular participation, they are celebrated mechanism for political mobilization, guiding policy formulation, implementation and much more significant guards against dictatorship. In Uganda, there is evidence that political parties have not been adequately...
Ethiopia’s invasion of Somalia in 2006: Motives and lessons learned
February 2010
Ethiopia’s invasion of Somalia in late 2006 may go down in history as one of the most daring if not imprudent strategic decision any African government has made on its neighbour. Ethiopia’s actions to invade Somalia gets more perplexing, considering it seemed unprovoked and should have been more circumspective given Ethiopia’s own history as a victim of unprovoked invasion by Italy and its myriad...
Zimbabwe sanctions: An analysis of the “Lingo†guiding the perceptions of the sanctioners and the sanctionees
February 2010
This paper analyzes how the values premised in Zimbabwe’s colonial history and liberation struggle, ideological differences and partocracy have influenced the perspectives of the Zimbabwe and the Western governments respectively in understanding the causes that led to the imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe. Furthermore, this article explores the nature of Zimbabwe sanctions by making comparative analysis of the...
Women’s participation and the political process in Nigeria: Problems and prospects
February 2010
Nigerian women constitute about half of the population of the country and are known to play vital roles as mother, producer, time manager, community organizer and social and political activist. But despite the major roles they play and their population, the society has not given recognition to these and to the fact that they are discriminated against. This is due to some cultural stereotype, abuse of religion,...
Ecocentric and anthropocentric policies and crises in climate/environment, finance and economy: Implications of the emerging green policy of the Obama administration for Africa’s sustainable development
January 2010
Advanced economies responded to recent global financial meltdown and economic recession by implementing “green” economic stimulus packages concentrating on environmentally-friendly and sustainable technologies. We examined this emerging paradigm against Sub-Saharan Africa’s under-development (prolonged poverty, economic stagnation/decline, weak structures, processes, institutions and attitudes required...
The effectiveness of decentralization policy in Ghana: A case study of Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrim (KEEA) and Abura –Asebu- Kwamankese (AAK) districts in Ghana
January 2010
This research aims at assessing the effectiveness of decentralization policies in Ghana with a case study conducted at Komenda–Edina–Eguafo–Abaim (KEEA) and Abura–Asebua-Kwamankese (AAK) districts in the Central Region of Ghana, the formulation and implementation of the policies and how they relate to the health, education and water sectors in the country. An interview guide was used to obtain...
Linking DDR and SSR in post conflict peace- building in Africa: An overview
January 2010
This paper is an overview of the linkage between the processes of disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation (DDR) and Security Sector Reform (SSR). It makes the case for developing an integrated approach in trying to understand the complementary relationship between DDR and SSR by drawing on a number of peace building experiences on the African continent. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations for...
The Sudan’s dimensions: A country divided by ethnicity and religion
December 2009
The words ethnic group and religion have been greatly controversial in world politics and especially in the developing world. This has been evidenced in the world that the word ethnic group and religion have created civil unrests within many countries and not just on the African Continent. This means that the communities which based their lives on ethnic groups have a different view of the term than the non-ethnic group...
African Diaspora and control of HIV infection due to unsafe medical practices in Africa
December 2009
Members of the African Diaspora have been portrayed as defectors, disloyal to their motherland. Such over generalized characterizations unfortunately risk clouding a complex reality and masking the positive involvement of a large number of Africans of the Diaspora in African affairs, particularly in the context of the HIV/AIDS crisis. One illustration of this involvement is a pilot project undertaken by US-based members...
From no- party to multi-party competition: Analysing women’s candidature in Uganda’s 2006 national elections
November 2009
This article examines the question of women’s candidature in Uganda’s multi-party elections in 2006. For 20 years since 1986, Uganda was governed under a no-party system known as Movement. Under this system electoral competition took place within a framework of individual merit where nomination was based on one’s individual decision to stand for public office. Within this same period there was...
The crown of sciences: Can it be just a science? The journey of political science in the 20th century
November 2009
Throughout history there was an agreement that the position of Political Science is at the peak of the hierarchy of social and human disciplines. In Aristotle’s view, politics touches on all aspects of public life that the rulers should deal with. Therefore, Political Science, by nature, is different from all other fields of knowledge. The history of its development in the twentieth century is a manifestation of...
Factors affecting voting behaviour and voting patterns in Zimbabwe’s 2008 harmonized elections
November 2009
Elections in Zimbabwe 2008 reflected a changing behaviour and pattern that has existed since her attainment of independence in 1980. History has it that the ruling ZANU PF has always had a sweet and easy victory over the opposition. The 2008 elections reflected a different picture. The 2008 elections were unique not only in as far as results are concerned but also in as far as the indirect and direct...
Disciplinary regime, neo-liberal bio-power and alienation of national sovereignty in Cameroon: Political economy of the imprisoned body
November 2009
This study found out that Cameroon’s national sovereignty and prospects of development were alienated because globalization came to most African countries in the 1980s as a form of capitalist power with new norms that humanized disciplinary institutions in the country. It invaded all the vital sectors of the population’s life and rendered the state apparatus deviant. This power system then enabled proponents...
Globalization: The theory and practice of citizenship in Africa
November 2009
Deeply articulated with the nation state, citizenship has acquired different connotations. This paper highlights how some of the major changes in our world such as globalization and the human rights regime affect the relationships between nation states and their citizens. It also show the extent these major global changes are actually affecting this most national of institutions. Key...
From accommodation to discrimination and exclusion: The changing pattern of inter-group relations in Nigeria
November 2009
Interactions amongst the various ethnic groups making up the Nigerian polity, pre and immediate post-independence, were seldom adversarial. They dwelt on respect, mutual understanding and accommodation of differences. Religious festivals were celebrated communally; inter-creed and inter-ethnic marriages were not so frowned against; residing outside ones ethnic locality was not packed with apprehensions. Also, such...
Children as a source of happiness within the Iranian families: Profiles and challenges
November 2009
The broad intention of the present paper is to reflect a picture of children within families in Iran in so far as their value is concerned. We will find out how inspite of all the existing social and economic hardships and disorders, children try to maintain adequate synergy within their families and the society as a whole. Further, the paper is intended to provide a detailed overview of children lives in Iran in...
The challenges of regional integration in Southern Africa
October 2009
Regional integration is increasingly being accepted as essential in facilitating economic and political development. Yet dominant development theories informing policy have yet to integrate ‘integration theory’ into their models. In Southern Africa, the attempt to achieve regional integration using ‘disintegrative’ development models has led to paralysis and pain. This paper highlights this...
Regional conflict resolution mechanisms: A comparative analysis of two African security complexes
October 2009
The need for regional organizations to take up the resolution of the conflicts in their region or security complex has become important especially following the end of the cold war. Two regional security complexes in Africa, namely ECOWAS and SADC are examined in the light of conflicts erupting in their regions - Liberia and Sierra Leone in the ECOWAS and Lesotho and DR Congo in the SADC sub regions. The paper examines...
The role approach as a theoretical framework for the analysis of foreign policy in third world countries
October 2009
The study of foreign policy usually focuses on the foreign policy of strong states. It is less common to analyze the foreign policy of Third World countries, not only because Third World countries are regarded as too weak and vulnerable to be influential externally, but also because finding an appropriate theoretical framework for the study of foreign policy in Third World countries is an extremely complex task. Against...
Globalisation of the Nile perch: Assessing the socio-cultural implications of the Lake Victoria fishery in Uganda
October 2009
This is a review article that combines research findings to highlight the negative effects of Uganda’s adoption of the liberalization policies in its fisheries sector. Using Lake Victoria as a case study, the paper discusses the impact of a liberalised fisheries industry on the socio-cultural landscape of small-scale/artisanal fishers and fishery-dependent communities in Uganda. Dominated by the Nile perch,...
The privatized state and mass poverty in Nigeria: The factor of economic development programmes since 1980s
October 2009
The Nigeria state has adopted many development options since 1960. In-built in these options are numerous poverty alleviation programmes aimed at reducing and or eradicating poverty within a given time frame. It is paradoxical that while these programmes are on course, poverty level grows geometrically. This paper explores the phenomenon with a view to establish the primary factor responsible for it and to establish...
‘Crime’, poverty, political corruption and conflict In apartheid and post apartheid South Africa: The implications on economic development
October 2009
The transition to a democratic, elected, non-racial government, which set in motion in early 1990, stirred a debate on the course of economic policies to accomplish sustained economic growth, while at the same time remedying the poverty, and other socio economic discrepancies generated by apartheid government. These include inequality and unemployment (particularly in the black South Africans), corruption, rash in...
An overview of pseudo-therapeutic approaches to poverty in Nigeria: The citizens and the state
September 2009
Mounting pressures on poverty eradication on world scale is informed by it severity and impact on the poor and the disadvantaged. In Nigeria for instance, where its large population lived in rural communities and engaged in subsistence agriculture they are said to be the worse hit; their condition is exacerbated by poor rural infrastructure, bad governance, unsustainable population growth, ethno-religious...
Understanding the crisis of development in Africa: Reflections on Bedford Umez’s analysis
September 2009
Despite the presence of huge mineral and human resources found in Africa, the continent has remained a victim of underdevelopment. This has prompted several efforts by scholars, African leaders and the international development agencies to understand and solve the development crisis. This paper is a review of Bedford Umez’s analysis of the development crisis in Nigeria. The paper exposed the implications of...
Resource conflict among farmers and Fulani herds men: Implications for resource sustainability
September 2009
This study describes the traditional relationship between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in the incessant resource conflict witnessed in Kogi State, Nigeria and how it affects livelihood security of those involved and resource sustainability for the communities. These conflicts are most responsible for the unsustainable utilization of land and water resources as the trampling by the hooves of herds of cattle compacts the...
Political intolerance as a clog in the wheel of democratic governance: The way forward
September 2009
This paper synoptically discusses the concept of political (in)tolerance and its implication on any democratic setting alongside with the concept of governance. Against this background, it argues that most African states took over from centralized and unrepresentative colonial ethnic and religious separatism – tribalism – and become victims to centrifugal aspirations of ambitious politicians...
The politics of historying: A postmodern commentary on Bahru Zewde’s history of modern Ethiopia
September 2009
This short commentary poses a timely challenge to positivist historiography both at the theoretical and the practical levels. Theoretically, it challenges, but only implicitly, many of the assumptions of modernist, objectivist historiography in a number of ways. Perhaps more interestingly and directly, it faces up to the intellectual difficulties of some of the discourses about the history (ies) of Ethiopia. This it...
Federalism and the search for national integration in Nigeria
September 2009
The thrust of this paper is to account for the gap between mere aspirations and actual practices vis-à-vis the management of Federalism in Nigeria. The paper begins with the plural character of Nigeria in all its ramifications which makes federalism compelling. The second part which is the theoretical anchor is an in-depth discussion of the general optimism in the literature as regards the capability of...
Federalism and the search for national integration in Nigeria
September 2009
The thrust of this paper is to account for the gap between mere aspirations and actual practices vis-à-vis the management of Federalism in Nigeria. The paper begins with the plural character of Nigeria in all its ramifications which makes federalism compelling. The second part which is the theoretical anchor is an in-depth discussion of the general optimism in the literature as regards the capability of...
Falsification of population census data in a heterogeneous Nigerian state: The fourth republic example
August 2009
This paper examines critically the controversy surrounding the recently concluded population census in Nigeria which came up between March 21 and 25, 2006. While population census is a deliberate attempt to enumerate people within a delimited territory at a specific time so as to determine their number, their contribution over the land area and their basic socio-demographic and economic characteristics, many of such...
Africa and the challenges of unipolar world: Sovereignty, civil society and women’s rights as case studies
August 2009
Close to two decades after the emergence of unipolar world, more than ample opportunities are provided to access the impact of this phenomenon on Africa. It emergence ushered in what is known today as “global village”. Happenings in any state are no longer the exclusive preserve of the ‘village’ or ‘hamlet’ concerned but that of the entire globe. Sovereign nations in Africa and indeed...
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