scholarly journals The Political Situation, Trends and Geopolitical Implications of Sub-Saharan and North African Countries: Comparative Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 08 (02) ◽  
pp. 108-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amsalu K. Addis ◽  
Zuping Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
The Political ◽  
North African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Political Situation ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
North African Countries

Social conflict, civil society, and maternal mortality in African countries

Leadership ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 543-555
Author(s):  
Iyabo Obasanjo
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Maternal Mortality ◽  
Social Conflict ◽  
Control Variable ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Social Conflicts ◽  
North African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
North African Countries

This study looks at the association between social conflicts, civil society freedom, and democracy, and how social conflicts impact maternal mortality in African countries as a first step toward understanding how to use civil society to pressure Sub-Saharan African governments into improving maternal mortality ratios and other human development indicators. Pro-Government riots were negatively associated with civil society freedom. Organized Demonstrations and Organized Riots were positively associated with civil society freedom when North African countries were included in the data, but when they were excluded, only Organized Riots were associated with civil society freedoms. The period under study included the Arab Spring, which was characterized by high numbers of Organized Demonstrations in North African countries. I theorized that Organized Demonstrations occur less often in Sub-Saharan African countries due to lower levels of internet connectivity (used to organize) or because government forces use severe suppression, which escalates demonstrations into riots more in Sub-Saharan Africa. The fewer Pro-Government riots there are, the freer the civil society, and the more Organized Demonstrations and Organized Riots, the freer the civil society. This indicates that Pro-Government riots tend to be organized as part of the government repression of civil society. The analyses used democratization levels of countries as a control variable and found that as autocracy level increases, the level of civil society freedom decreases. Organized Demonstrations were the only form of social conflict associated with maternal mortality. It was a negative association, with rising maternal mortality associated with fewer Organized Demonstrations. The finding therefore suggests that democratic governance, with associated civil society freedom, that allows Organized Demonstrations provides the best scenario for health outcomes in African countries.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East and North Africa. Old demons in a new bottle

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-18
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Górak-Sosnowska
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Economic Situation ◽  
Social Conflicts ◽  
North African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Political Situation ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
North African Countries

The paper presents the strategies of Middle East and North African countries in coping with COVID-19 pandemic in the first months of spring/summer 2020. It offers a categorisation of strategies basing on the available assets the countries have and political situation. According to this categorisation there are countries in which the pandemic is one more burden to bear that makes the current political or economic situation even worse (countries torn by war or serious internal social conflicts); countries that cope with the pandemic as good as it gets – taking their institutional capacities (Egypt and Morocco); the too rich to fail category of GCC countries, and two possible success stories (by that time Jordan and Tunisia).

Integrating African Migrants?

2020 ◽  
pp. 165-186
Author(s):  
Matt Buehler ◽  
Kyung Joon Han
Keyword(s):  
North Africa ◽  
African Descent ◽  
Maritime Security ◽  
North African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
African Migrants ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
North African Countries

Given historically amicable relations between North Africa’s native citizens of Arab and African descent, it is counterintuitive that prejudice against foreign African migrants from sub-Saharan countries seems to be rising. Discrimination seems to be intensifying against African migrants who have recently arrived from Congo, Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Mali, and elsewhere. Where conflict and poverty proliferate in these countries, migrants flee to North Africa seeking clandestine access to Europe by boat across the Mediterranean, or by foot through Spain’s North African enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta. In response, Spain, Italy, and North African countries have increased border and maritime security. Thus, as an alternative, many sub-Saharan African migrants have decided to resettle in North Africa. Previously, articles have appeared depicting North African states as “sender” countries of migrants. Yet, more recently, they have also become “recipient” countries of African migrants.

The Study of Democratization and the Arab Spring

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amel Ahmed ◽  
Giovanni Capoccia
Keyword(s):  
Political Development ◽  
Arab Spring ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
The Political ◽  
North African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
North African Countries ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
The Arab Spring

This paper proposes and illustrates a framework for analysis of the recent events in Middle Eastern and North African countries (the so-called Arab Spring) by bringing into dialogue recent theoretical advances in democratization theory with the comparative-historical literature on the political development of the MENA region. We advocate two analytical shifts from conventional approaches in the analysis of the Arab Spring: first, reconsider the temporalities of democratization processes; second, focus on struggles over specific institutional arenas rather than over the regime as a whole. The former recommendation draws attention both to the strategies used by key actors in the political, economic, and civil society spheres, and to the historical legacies that built the influence and resources of these actors over time. The latter allows us to consider the institutional safeguards for old elites that are likely to be included in the post-authoritarian regimes emerging in the region. Even though some of these safeguards are clearly anti-democratic, historical examples show that they do not necessarily preclude democratization. Indeed, in some cases, their introduction might be necessary to achieve democratic openings in other arenas. We illustrate these theoretical points with reference to the case of Egypt.

Impact of Peace and Economic Freedom on the Prosperity of Middle East and North African Countries

2018 ◽  
pp. 50-65
Author(s):  
Yilmaz Bayar
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Economic Freedom ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
North African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
North African Countries

Significant improvements have been experienced in global prosperity in the recent years, but there have been considerable differences at prosperity levels of different regions. Western Europe and North Africa were the most prosperous regions of the world in 2017, while Sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East and North Africa were the least prosperous regions of the world in 2017. However, Middle East and North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa are also the least peaceful regions of the world. In this regard, this chapter analyzes the effect of peace and economic freedom on prosperity in Middle East and North African countries with panel data analysis. The results of empirical analysis revealed that both peace and economic freedom are significant determinants of prosperity.

scholarly journals Creating and Enhancing Capacity in Africa for Efficient Economic and Social Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4.) ◽  
pp. 36-53
Author(s):  
Lawalley Cole
Keyword(s):  
Social Development ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
North African ◽  
East African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Youth Population ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Population Ratio ◽  
North African Countries

We estimate that by 2050, one-third of the world’s population will live in Africa: up from about one-fifth in 2012. Such growth will be imbalanced across Africa with Southern and North African countries characterised by slowing or even negative youth population growth, while West Central, and East African countries will experience significant youth population increases. Sub-Saharan Africa will have a considerably higher youth–to-population ratio over the next 35 years. The continent must, therefore, be ready for an increasingly young labour force.

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