The State of Liberal Democracy With Regard to Elections and Political Stability in Africa: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice in Tanzania and Keny

2021 ◽  
pp. 52-70
Author(s):  
Paul Mtasigazya
Keyword(s):  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
The State ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
East African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Liberal Democratic ◽  
Democratic Tradition ◽  
Election Violence

This study explores the state of liberal democracy and political stability in Africa. In particular it intends to assess what is said about liberal democracy in relation to free and fair election, political stability and the politics of ethnicity in Tanzania and Kenya and the reality happening on the ground (the practice) in East African countries. The rationale for undertaking this analysis is that the East African countries have experienced political transformation: for instance, for much of the post-colonial period East African countries tended to live under one-party regime, but since 1990s East African countries embraced multiparty system. This study pays attention to assessing the outcomes of liberal democracy in East African countries in particular examining the extent to which the liberal democracy promotes free and fair elections, political stability and the mitigation of the politics of ethnicity. This study employed a comparative analysis, in which it compared the extent to which liberal democracy is practiced in Tanzania and Kenya and how far the above-mentioned parameters are realized under the broad spectrum of liberal democracy. The methods of data collection were interviews and documentary review and the discussion of the findings was organized around the sub-themes of this study. The period covered in this discussion is the contemporary period from 1990’s to 2019. The findings indicate that even though African countries have adopted liberal democracy, in some of the East African countries like Kenya, political stability and free and fair elections have not been fully realized, while in Tanzania the experience indicates that political stability is relatively realized after elections. This study concludes that even if the institutions of liberal democracy have gradually developed with partial free and fair elections, the manifestations of political instability still exist in some of the East African countries, as shown by the election violence in Kenya comparatively to Tanzania. Therefore, the interface between the liberal democracy and political stability has not been sufficiently realized in the liberal democratic tradition. This study recommends that elections as one of the pillars of liberal democracy should be properly and fairly instituted, so that the role of liberal democracy is realized in fostering peace and tranquility.

scholarly journals Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway Project in the Context of Theory and Practice of Regional Planning

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanard Otwori Juma ◽  
Fredrick Adol Gogo ◽  
Ahmed Abduletif Abdulkadr ◽  
Dénes Dávid Lóránt
Keyword(s):  
Regional Planning ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
East African ◽  
African Region ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Transportation Services ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
The Impact

Despite most African countries having immense natural and human resources potential, the continent has mostly been lagging on matters of economic development. This scenario could primarily be attributed to weak intra-regional and inter-country trade given the poor connectivity, quality, and diversity in transportation services and infrastructure. In this regard, the governments of the greater East African Region representing Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya, therefore, mooted a coordinated vision to develop interlinked regional infrastructure in road and rail transport to allow smooth movement of goods and services.  This paper aimed to critically review the impact of the SGR development on Kenya in the context of regional planning and development. The methodology of the study was a critical review of existing literature and secondary data. Study findings indicated that the development of the (Standard Gauge Railway) SGR is in tandem with the development strategies of other East African Countries. Its development is incorporated in national spatial plans with the rail route targeting regions with viable populations and sustainable economic activities. Criticisms, however, revolve around the ballooning debt to finance infrastructural development and lack of prioritization f mega projects. In conclusion, despite the financial constraints, the SGR is viewed to significantly influence the socio-economic spheres while presenting challenges in the management of landscapes where it traverses in Kenya and the Region.

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.

The State of Publishing in East Africa

LOGOS ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 23-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiarie Kamau
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Publishing Industry ◽  
Book Publishing ◽  
Digital Publishing ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
The State ◽  
East African ◽  
African Region ◽  
African Countries ◽  
East African Region

The main aim of this paper is to examine the state of publishing in East Africa. It also attempts to review the situation in Malawi and Zambia, where the author has had practical experience in publishing and marketing. The paper focuses on the growth of the publishing industry in the East African region and how this growth has impacted on access to textbooks and trade publications. It demonstrates that there has been significant growth in the industry, especially in Kenya and Uganda. However, this growth has largely been in the area of publishing of textbooks. Funding for the rollout of curricula in the East African countries has been a blessing to publishers because the funding includes allocations for textbook purchases for both primary and secondary schools. However, this kind of publishing has sounded something of a death knell for the publication of general books such as novels and biographies. The paper also demonstrates that indigenous book-publishing firms have gained a stronger foothold in East Africa in the last ten years and edged out the multinationals. It concludes by indicating that unless the publishing model changes, general publishing will continue to be relegated to the back-burner. At the same time, publishers are challenged to embrace digital publishing, since that is where the future of publishing lies.

Freedoms and Ideology: The Current State of Political Thought in the Middle East

1984 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-21
Author(s):  
Louis Awad
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
Political Thought ◽  
Liberal Democratic ◽  
Current State ◽  
Democratic Tradition ◽  
Egyptian History

Mr. Moderator, ladies, and gentlemen: I should like to begin by thanking MESA profoundly for this kind invitation. I must not forget to say that I was surprised to find that the general title of the colloquium today was “The Post-Liberal Age in the Middle East,” which sounds like a gruesome epitaph on a certain period. I personally belong to the school which holds fast to the liberal democratic tradition and I shall try to point out in the few lines which I have put down—which I will read out now—why I still belong to that school which believes in liberal democracy and secularism.It is very difficult to trace the concept of Freedom or to analyse its theoretical content across Egyptian history up to 1798, the date of Bonaparte’s Expedition in Egypt.

C. B. Macpherson's Critique of Liberal Democracy and Capitalism

1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 646-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Morrice
Keyword(s):  
Political Theory ◽  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
Democratic Theory ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Socialist Society ◽  
Economic Liberalism ◽  
Liberal Tradition ◽  
Liberal Democratic ◽  
Theory Of Human Nature ◽  
Market Relations

C. B. Macpherson's project was to revise liberal-democratic theory in the light of Marxism, to rescue the valuable part of the liberal tradition from the dangers of capitalist market relations, and to democratize socialism. I identify Macpherson's concept of political theory, which informs his project; reconstruct his criticisms of liberal democratic theory and capitalist market relations; and note his prescriptions for a better political theory and practice. The project remains significant and valuable in a world in which political and economic liberalism is said to be triumphant and socialism dead or in retreat. It is not without its problems, however, which include an inadequate theory of human nature and a lack of detail on the nature of a democratic socialist society.

scholarly journals Book review: Leenco Lata Peacekeeping as State-Building: Current Challenges for the Horn of Africa. Ewing Township, USA: The Red Sea Press. 2012. 160 p.

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 366-370
Author(s):  
Bewuketu Dires Gardachew
Keyword(s):  
Red Sea ◽  
State Building ◽  
The State ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Horn Of Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
State Legitimacy ◽  
Peacekeeping Operations

The review of Leenco Lata's1 book “Peacekeeping as State-Building: Current Challenges for the Horn of Africa” examines the theory and practice of state-building on the example of African countries. The central premise of this monograph is the assumption that state-building requires rethinking of the factors and attributes traditionally associated with the state. The book consists of nine chapters, each of which is analyzed by the reviewer. The monograph focuses on the problems of state-building, state legitimacy, and the role and specifics of peacekeeping operations in the horn of Africa.

scholarly journals The Effects of Government Quality and Economic Indicators on Self-employment in East Africa: Panel Data Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
FIRDISA BIRRU GOSHU
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
East Africa ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Economic Indicators ◽  
Income Poverty ◽  
East African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Natural Logarithm ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Government Quality

Abstract Self-employment plays a major role in the economic growth of Africa in general and East African countries in particular. It is a major source of new jobs and a way of employing the entrepreneurial abilities of the population. Moreover, self-employment allows people to do what they want and to follow their passion. However, populations in East Africa face various barriers that hinder their ability to start their own business and/or to become self-employed. Thus, the aim of this study is to examine the effects of government quality and economic indicators on self-employment. Data was taken for this study from World Bank’s World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators, African development Bank and United Nations Development Program for eight East African countries for 2010-2018. The countries were selected based on the availability of panel data. The fixed effects result indicated that political Stability, control of corruption indices and Voice and accountability, natural logarithm of electricity access, mobile phone subscriptions, people living below income poverty line and primary education enrolment are favorably affecting self-employment in East Africa. The result also shows that the natural logarithm of employment in industry and real GDP growth have negative coefficients. . These findings suggest that in addition to economic and social indicators government quality have greater effect on self-employment in East Africa.

Confucian and Communitarian Responses to Liberal Democracy

1997 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Arben Fox
Keyword(s):  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Illiberal Democracy ◽  
Democratic Reform ◽  
Liberal Democratic ◽  
Democratic Practice ◽  
Democratic Societies

As East Asian societies struggle with the implications of modenity, the degree to which their Confucian heritage can support institutions of liberal democracy has been much debated. Recently, several authors have argued that the nations of Confucian Asia are indeed modernizing, but in the direction of “illiberal democracy”, which they see as an approach to democratic practice that takes communitarian concerns like social solidarity and political virtue into greater account than other, more liberal democratic societies do. In line with that argument, this article makes an introductory comparison of classical Confucian and contemporary communitarian thought, criticizes the view of Confucianism as necessarily authoritarian and suggests that Confucian theory and practice provides a strong and in many ways unique communitarian response to liberalism, without fundamentally invalidating those humanistic principles basic to democratic reform.

Peasant Politicisation and Economic Recuperation in Ghana: Local and National Dilemmas

1989 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwendolyn Mikell
Keyword(s):  
National Development ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Global Market ◽  
The State ◽  
Economic Stability ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Urban Bias ◽  
Independent States ◽  
Traditional Institutions ◽  
Rural Producers

There is increasing evidence in Ghana, as well as in other African countries, to suggest that the relationship between rural production and nation-state politics is more complex than has been realised. In the late 1970s, it appeared to some analysts that global market fluctuations, continuous rural extraction and exploitation by the state, disdain for traditional institutions, and ‘urban bias’ had so ravaged Ghanaian rural producers that they were continuing to distance themselves from the state and its vaunted political economy. This peasant behaviour, although symptomatic of deep economic and other socio-cultural problems, was viewed as creating a basis for political instability within which riots, coups, and social disorder occurred with great frequency.1 Political scientists generally downplayed these complex socio-cultural factors, and argued that it was lack of political integration which failed to correct the fragmentation and incoherence within the newly independent states, and which made political stability and national development impossible. Here seemed to be another example of the ‘chicken and egg’ phenomenon, in which politics and economic stability were so inextricably interwoven that it was not feasible to have one without the other.

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