Democracy or Peace?
Democracy should lead to peace, security and development - and not the other way round, as we have seen in many new democracies in Africa where things are moving in the opposite direction. Elections in Africa - rather than producing a better life for the people, in terms of goods and services – have actually produced more violence. Nigeria is one example of where elections have not led to democratic governance. Why is this so? Victor Adetula, current holder of the Claude Ake Visiting Chair, believes that the conditions necessary for liberal democracy are still lacking in many African states.
Read interview with Victor Adetula.
Chinese Engagement in Africa
China’s increased presence in several African countries over the past twenty years has led to debates and discussions in the West. Sometimes even the word “colonisation” is mentioned.
NAI guest researcher Daouda Cissé thinks that this is ridiculous coming from former colonisers whose colonial presence in Africa was brutal, violent and barbarous.
Resurrected Apartheid
Twenty years after apartheid was abolished, South African cities remain highly segregated. South Africans with enough money often choose to live within gated communities and shield themselves from the rest of society.
– Today, few in the public arena are talking about the fact that apartheid is being resurrected in South Africa. This is hardly surprising, however, as decision-makers and other powerful people are often the very ones who live in gated communities. Neither do poor people talk about this subject, as they have other, more pressing, things to deal with, such as gaining access to clean water, electricity, public transport and other key societal functions, observes Charlotte Lemanski, researcher at University College London.
Too rushed?
Sweden's Support For Sugar Production
The Swedish aid agency, Sida, has decided to give SEK 120 million to EcoEnergy as a guarantee for commercial loans to invest in sugarcane production in Tanzania. NAI researcher Linda Engström questions the decision.
"The first surprise in this story is that Sida has decided to provide another kind of funding from what was originally applied for by EcoEnergy. The company’s objective in its application in 2012 was for a credit guarantee for a major loan from African Development Bank (AfDB). Instead, Sida is now providing a guarantee to enable EcoEnergy to get started, with a smaller loan from an anonymous private bank."
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RECLAIMING PUBLIC LAND
Hargeisa, capital of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, has been the site of dramatic shifts in urban property relations over the past two decades.
– As a result of war and unplanned land use there is no public space in the city. No parks, no recreational areas – nothing. Everything is privately owned. Therefore, the city needs to reclaim and re-create public land, says Tobias Hagman, researcher at Roskilde University.
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THE MAKING OF MORAL PUBLIC SPACES
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BECOME GUEST RESEARCHER AT NAI
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ANTI-GAY LAW IN UGANDA
Three articles on NAI Forum and one at Mats Utas'blog comment the anti-gay law in Uganda, recently signed by President Museveni.
Jeffrey Ogwaro, from the Civil Society on Human Rights and Constitutional Law in Uganda, presents an appeal with guidelines on how to support the Ugandan civil society after the anti-gay law. Read here.
Jesper Bengtsson, from the think tank Tiden, discusses if aid can be used to put pressure on despotic regimes to changer their policies. Read here.
Haley McEwen, researcher at University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, describes the role of the US Christian Right in influencing politics in Africa and also asks why African countries are creating homophobic laws, while the rest of the world is in processes of outlawing sex based discrimination. Read here.
Kristof Titeca, researcher at University of Antwerp and Ghent University, seeks to problematize the common explanations by instead highlight how due to a range of factors, Musenevi was no longer in full control over the bill, leaving little options than signing it. Read here.
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AFRICA TURNING
Two decades ago the image of Africa was characterized by war, famine and alarming reports about aids. Today the situation is different. Analysts talk about rapid economic growth, a growing middle class and increased political stability. What is behind this turn?
Former ambassador Sten Rylander has for over thirty years been following African development from a close perspective. His experiences have been collected in the book 'Afrika vänder' (Africa Turning).
At the book launch the author will discuss the topic of his book with Mrs Morina Mouundjo, Ambassador of The Republic of Namibia.
Book launch 25 March, 15.00 at NAI.
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