Individuals and Institutions

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-36
Author(s):  
Leonardo R. Arriola ◽  
Martha C. Johnson ◽  
Melanie L. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
African Women ◽  
Women In Politics ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Financial Autonomy ◽  
Patronage Politics ◽  
Institutional Structures ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
Organizational Ties ◽  
Concise Description

Chapter 1 provides a theoretical framework for understanding African women’s experiences within the broader scholarship on women in politics. The chapter discusses, in three stages, the choices African women must make as they aspire to candidacy, campaign in elections, and govern in office. For each stage, the authors review central theories in the literature on women’s representation and discuss how related hypotheses are upheld or contradicted by emerging evidence from African countries. These overviews highlight common empirical findings as well as specific contradictions across the eight countries examined in the book—Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Uganda, and Zambia. The chapter also provides a concise description of each empirical chapter’s core findings with an emphasis on how individual attributes (e.g., professional background, financial autonomy, organizational ties) and institutional structures (e.g., political parties, electoral systems, media organizations, patronage politics) interact to impinge on African women’s political trajectories.

Institutional Structures and the Prevalence of Foreign Ownership of Firms

2018 ◽  
pp. 455-479
Author(s):  
Otuo Serebour Agyemang
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Economics ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Foreign Ownership ◽  
New Institutional Economics ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Regulatory Quality ◽  
Institutional Structures ◽  
High Voice

This chapter examines how country-level institutional structures influence the prevalence of foreign ownership of firms in Africa. It reinforces the new institutional economics perspective by empirically highlighting that institutional structures influence the prevalence of foreign ownership of companies in an economy. Using archival data from 39 African economies, the authors found that there is a significant positive association between regulatory quality and foreign ownership prevalence. Also, foreign ownership is prevalent in African countries that are politically stable and embrace rule of law. However, the authors found that countries with high voice and accountability structures are associated with low foreign ownership prevalence.

4. The primacy of patronage politics

2018 ◽  
pp. 44-55
Author(s):  
Ian Taylor
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
International Institutions ◽  
Rent Seeking ◽  
The State ◽  
Modern State ◽  
African Politics ◽  
Coercive Control ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Patronage Politics

A great number of post-colonial African countries, bounded by formal frontiers and with an international presence at various international institutions such as the United Nations, function quite differently from conventional understandings of what a formal state is and should do. ‘The primacy of patronage politics’ explains that to understand African politics, the concept of neo-patrimonialism must be considered. Neo-patrimonialism is where patronage, clientelism, and rent-seeking exist, but where the structures of a modern state are also in place. In general, post-colonial African leaders have relied on coercive control and patronage through capturing power over the state, rather than through constructing a functioning impartial administration.

Gender relations in the workplace: The experience of female managers in African harbours

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-314
Author(s):  
Henriett Primecz ◽  
Helena Karjalainen
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
African Women ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Women In Management ◽  
Female Managers ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
North African Countries

Scholarship on women in management has been dominated by White Western women, rendering African women management research largely invisible. Consequently, we know very little about female managers in African contexts. This study advances knowledge of the career obstacles, work–life balance issues and leadership styles of African women leaders, by presenting testimonies based on exploratory qualitative interviews with 26 female port managers from two North African countries and eight sub-Saharan countries. The findings show that the interviewees in this sample are not subjugated women on the periphery of their societies. Rather, they are active agents who are capable of producing effective professional identities and mostly represent middle- or upper-class women in their societies. Although they face similar issues as those identified in previous women in management literature, including subtle or overt discrimination, work–life balance difficulties and a lack of recognition from male counterparts, their situation differs slightly from those in the West owing to their cultural, historical and religious context.

scholarly journals WOMEN’S ACCESS TO SCIENCE PROGRAMMES IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN AFRICA

1994 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel B. Babalola
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
African Women ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Limited Access ◽  
International Agencies

This paper seeks to prefer solutions to the problems of limited access of African women to higher education in the area of science and technology. As a matter of fact, African women not only suffer from limited access to higher education, but due to supply and demand factors, are also prevented from pursuing those courses like their male counterparts at that level. In analyzing the effect of the supportive or limiting factors on women’s access to science and technology courses, the author is of the opinion that for African countries to attain a very high profile in science and technology, they have to mobilize the genius of their womenfolk, sharpen their policy measures and seek the support and cooperation of the international agencies. Furthermore, African countries should consider the formation of country and gender – specific programmes as important ingredients to the successful implementation of women access to science in the higher education scheme. And finally, though Africa has several alternatives to encourage women’s greater participation in science and technology courses in higher institutions, expansion policies which are complemented with cost-reducing and benefit-raising strategies are favoured.

scholarly journals Introduction

2020 ◽  
pp. 3-13
Author(s):  
Christopher Cramer ◽  
John Sender ◽  
Arkebe Oqubay
Keyword(s):  
Growth And Development ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
Investment Strategy ◽  
African Women ◽  
Neoclassical Economics ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Economic Growth And Development ◽  
Quality Of Evidence ◽  
Wide Range

The keys to sustained economic growth and development lie in policy and investment strategy decisions taken within African countries. Our argument is ‘possibilist’: neither pessimistic nor naively optimistic. We draw on a wide range of economic and political economy research but also on research in history, anthropology, environmental science, agronomy, and more. The book pays attention to gender relations, offering thick descriptions of the ways in which the majority of African women struggle to survive. It pays closer attention than many to how data are produced and to the quality of evidence underpinning conventional wisdoms. It draws on an unusually wide range of types of evidence, qualitative as well as quantitative, historical and contemporary, providing a rich resource of references and a guide to additional reading. Our arguments through this book are often different from both those typically associated with mainstream neoclassical economics and those more common on ‘the left’.

The evolution of cognitive behaviour therapy

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley Rachman
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Therapy ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour ◽  
The Future ◽  
Three Stages

Chapter 1 discusses the evolution of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) in three stages, the development of behaviour therapy in 1950-70, and cognitive therapy in the mid-1960s, and the merging of these two therapies into cognitive behaviour therapy in the late 1980s. Likely trends in the future of CBT and points for growth in the field are also outlined.

scholarly journals A gender perspective on career challenges experienced by African scientists

2019 ◽  
Vol 115 (3/4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Prozesky ◽  
Johann Mouton
Keyword(s):  
Research Funding ◽  
Women Scientists ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
African Women ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Younger Women ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
Participation Of Women ◽  
Future Success ◽  
Work Family

Empirical knowledge of the career challenges that confront African scientists, and women scientists in particular, holds an important key to achieving future success in the science systems of the continent. In this article, we address a lack of evidence generally on the careers of scientists in Africa, by providing the first continent-wide description of the challenges they face, and how these challenges differ between women and men. Our analysis of questionnaire-survey data on approximately 5000 African scientists from 30 countries shows that women are not more challenged than men by a variety of career-related issues, with the exception of balancing work and family, which the majority of women, regardless of age and region, experience. Contrary to expectations, women are not only less likely than men to report a lack of funding as having impacted negatively on their careers, but have been more successful at raising research funding in the health sciences, social sciences and humanities. These results, as well as those from a comparison of women according to age and region, are linked to existing scholarship, which leads us to recommend priorities for future interventions aimed at effectively ensuring the equal and productive participation of women in the science systems of Africa. These priorities are addressing women’s work–family role conflict; job security among younger women scientists; and women in North African and Western African countries. Significance: This study is the first to describe, on a multinational scale, the career challenges that confront African scientists, and women scientists in particular. Contrary to expectations, we found that African women scientists do not report experiencing career challenges to a larger extent than men do, and have been more successful at raising research funding in three of the six major scientific fields. However, the findings highlight the significance of the challenge that balancing work and family poses to the majority of African women scientists.

scholarly journals Female entrepreneurship in Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dina Modestus Nziku ◽  
John Joseph Struthers
Keyword(s):  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Risk Sharing ◽  
Risk Behaviour ◽  
African Women ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conceptual Study ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework which combines the strength of weak ties (SWT) concept with an innovative taxonomy for mitigating principal-agent (P-A) conflicts. The taxonomy highlights the mechanisms through which African women can overcome the obstacles faced when setting up businesses. Design/methodology/approach The paper discusses the role of “weak ties” networks in entrepreneurial activities and integrates the concept with the key parameters of the P-A paradigm. The aim is to develop a taxonomy (or scorecard) for mitigating the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Africa from a P-A perspective. Six P-A parameters are analysed, namely, attitudes towards risk; behaviour-based vs targets-based contracts; asymmetric information; risk-sharing; transaction costs; and verification and monitoring costs. Findings With the aid of the taxonomy developed in the paper, the authors analyse the channels through which “SWT” networks may impact in mitigating the problems arising from the P-A paradigm. Some implications for women entrepreneurs in Africa are highlighted. Research limitations/implications The current conceptual study suggests that the “SWT” concept can be used by African women entrepreneurs to mitigate P-A problems. The authors argue that the original P-A taxonomy developed in the paper fills a conceptual research gap in the existing literature. Embedding the SWT concept within a P-A framework will facilitate further research not only to understand African women entrepreneurs’ attitudes (and responses) towards risk and uncertainty, but this will also facilitate greater understanding of the importance women attach to the role of incentives within their businesses. Practical implications The taxonomy presents new insights for understanding the most serious constraints that hinder women entrepreneurs in Africa. The taxonomy will be the basis for a follow-up empirical paper on selected African countries. Originality/value The originality of this study lies in the development of an innovative taxonomy which highlights the role of “SWT” social networks towards mitigating the P-A problem among African women entrepreneurs. The paper makes a significant contribution to the literature from a conceptual perspective.

scholarly journals Modelling potential β-carotene intake and cyanide exposure from consumption of biofortified cassava

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josh M. Katz ◽  
Michael R. La Frano ◽  
Carl K. Winter ◽  
Betty J. Burri
Keyword(s):  
Central African Republic ◽  
African Women ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Chronic Disability ◽  
Feeding Study ◽  
Consumption Data ◽  
African Populations ◽  
The World ◽  
Staple Crop ◽  
Β Carotene

AbstractVitamin A (VA) deficiency causes disability and mortality. Cassava can be crossbred to improve its β-carotene (BC) content; typical white cassava contains negligible amounts of BC. However, cassava contains cyanide and its continued consumption may lead to chronic disability. Our objective was to estimate the risk–benefit of consuming BC-enhanced cassava to increase VA intake. A total of ten American women were fed white and BC-enhanced cassava. BC and cyanide data from the feeding study were combined with African cassava consumption data to model the potential daily BC, VA and cyanide intakes of African women. If BC-enhanced cassava replaced white cassava in the diets, it could theoretically meet recommended VA intakes for the following percentages of individuals from six African countries that consume cassava as a staple crop: Angola (95 %), Central African Republic (95 %), Congo (about 100 %), Ghana (99 %), Mozambique (99 %) and Nigeria (92 %). Cyanide intake after minimal preparation of cassava could be thirteen to thirty-two times the reference dose (RfD), a toxicological exposure reference, but could be completely removed by extensive soaking. This study demonstrates that consumption of BC-enhanced cassava, processed to maintain BC and remove cyanide, theoretically increases VA intakes for African populations and other areas of the world where cassava is a staple crop.

Revolution and Authoritarianism in North Africa

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Volpi
Keyword(s):  
Regime Change ◽  
North African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Arab Uprisings ◽  
Third Stage ◽  
Interactionist Perspective ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
North African Countries ◽  
Formal Recognition

This book analyses how the Arab uprisings, the sudden wave of leaderless protests that broke out in 2011, could produce regime change in a region until then characterized by authoritarian resilience. It investigates the factors that shaped the trajectories of the uprisings in four North African countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. Using an interactionist perspective, it analyzes the three stages of regime change and authoritarian resilience during this wave of uprisings. The first stage corresponds to the implosion of the ruling authoritarian system. This episode is defined by a sharp increase in mobilization of protesters against the regime and the accompanying decrease in the capabilities of the ruling institutions. The second stage corresponds to the reconstruction of practices and discourses around the demands of the protesters and the counter-propositions of the regime to halt the process of deinstitutionalization. This period is marked by the diffusion of new social and political behaviors that challenge and replace preexisting mechanisms of governance or, alternatively, that are subsumed under them. The third stage is the reconstruction of routinized behaviors around a new consensus on governance. This period is characterized by a formal recognition of these new arrangements at home and abroad and by political demobilization.

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