The relationship between ethnic conflicts and democratisation is one of the most topical issues of the present time, but also of the future of multiethnic societies.That is why the subject of the analysis in this paper will be basic determinants ofethnic policies and models of ethnic relations management in the territories of former communist/socialist, multiethnic federations (CSSR, USSR and SFRY). Causes, factors, chief political and social actors and the impact of ethnic conflictson development and democratisation of post-communist multiethnic societies will be also analysed. As ethnic conflicts, i. e. the relationship the Majority - Minority, are going to be an active factor of changes in Eastern Europe, this paper will dealwith connections between ethnic conflicts, the status of minorities and the achieved level of democratisation. Special attention will be paid to the analysis of processes in the territory of former Yugoslavia, which could provide an abundance of material for such an analysis.This particularly applies to the most important conflicts between Serbs and Croats; Serbs, Croats and Muslims in B&H, Serbia and Macedonia. The exarnple of the Serbian-Albanian relations and war in Kosovo will be elaborated on because it sublimely manifests the devastating force of ethno nationalisrn alongwith Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo, and Albanians and Macedonians in western Macedonia. However, the analysis will be reduced to Serbia and the FRY, more specifically to the crisis of national and state identity of the Majority (Serbs) andthe status of Minorities.
This paper argues that a number of competing interpretations of multicu1turalism and education have emerged during the 1980s and 1990s in response to issues ofethnic and cultural difference in Australia. Drawing on the work of otherresearchers such as Kalantzis et al. (1990), the article traces the changing nature of governmental discourses and their effects in the education field, from cultural pluralist models through to perspectives which stressed broad institutional change and the social in clusion of marginalised 'ethnic minority' groups. The paper extends previous work by examining the ways in which the language of neo-liberalism has displaced the categories of race, ethnicity and culture as key concerns in the development of educational policy and programs by the end of the 1990s. It suggests, that these new trends have transformed multiculturalismin education into a 'choice' of establishing separate schools and systems along ethno-specific lines, but with no guarantee of improving educational outcomes. Concluding, the piece argues that an alternative agenda would build on the insights gained in the earlier processes of reform, which focused on broad institutionaI change. However, it is also proposed that there is a need to linkt hese insights to a critical analysis of the ways in which the emerging types of knowledge, institutionaI arrangements and teaching strategies are producing new forms of exclusion within the ethnic and culturai spheres of our 'Iife-worlds'.
The variable trust has become widely used in the social science research lately and few concepts seem to have attracted so much attention from such a broad variety of academic disciplines. In political science in the theories on social capital and political culture, emphasizing its importance for democracy, trus has been seen as na essential variable for the understanding of societies. In social capital theory the generalized interpersonal trust is often given a particularly important role to initiate virtuous circles of development in the societies. This paper will treat some of the different theories that are connected both to the definition and the effects of generalized trust and then issues connected to the uncertainty of the measurements of generalized trust
This paper is meant to give insight in immigrant incorporation in EU-member states labour markets, as well in variations in (national) degrees of immigrant incorporation as in variables that impact the (country specific) development of policies with regard to immigrantin corporation in the labour market. A study on the labour market incorporation of immigrants cannot completely be detached from national labour market developments and labour migration needs and the ways EU-member states develop and have developed (labour)migration policies. Since a major part of the immigrants of the last two decades have arrived under other titles than legal economic immigrants, but as family members, asylum seekers orin an irregular status, the migration spectrum has to be broadened to these categories in orderto understand national variations in immigrant incorporation in the labour market and in thenational policy responses. In the final part of this paper research questions are presented forfuture investigation in EU-member states.
In this report, the results of a research project that examines municipal relations around the Gotha Canal are presented together with a discussion of the factors influencing political and administrative co-operation in general. The report begins with an analysis of the structural factors influencing regional co-operation in Europe and Sweden, and continues with an examination of the ways that actors in the Canal municipalities perceive these structural hinders. In order to achieve this the project has examined inter-municipal co-operation in parts of the Swedish counties of Västergötland and Östergötland. Two central aspects have been examined. The first is the political co-operation between the municipalities, and the second is the administrative co-operation. It should be noted that the municipalities' co-operation around the Gotha Canal cannot be seen as an isolated phenomenon, and that it must be seen in a wider context – that of a relatively recent and general trend towards regional co-operation in the area. In a report of this size it is not possible to describe all details of the different types of co-operation that now exist between the municipalities. Neither has it been the aim of this project to provide a detailed documentation of the various stages in the development of the cooperation around the Gotha Canal up to today. The ambition has been instead to attempt to uncover the factors that are conductive or detrimental to regional development and inter-municipal co-operation both in the specific case of the Canal, and in general. It should also be remembered that regional development in Sweden is an area that is in a process of rapid transition and that in some ways it has only just begun. New developments are taking place all the time, and it is impossible to predict how and where these developments will lead. The study was based primarily on semi-structured interviews with fifteen senior council politicians and civil servants in the municipalities of Mariestad, Töreboda, Karlsborg, Motala, Linköping, Norrköping and Söderköping, as well as with officials in the county of Östergötland. These were analysed together with municipal and county documents. Each interview lasted approximately 40 to 50 minutes. Five of the interviewees were woman and 10 were men and they are referred to in this report only as interviewees. The interviews were recorded and then transcribed into computer files. The transcribed interviews were qualitatively analysed and key concepts and issues identified. These concepts and issues, and the discourses around them, form the central empirical material on which this paper is based. The analysis of the 15 interviews conducted in the course of this project was supplemented by analyses of 41 other interviews with municipal politicians and administrators conducted in previous research projects. It is hoped that this report will be of use to two main groups; first, municipal politicians and civil servants; secondly, members of the business community. The isolation of these two groups from each other has become less marked during the last decade, and attitudes of the groups to each other have changed considerably. There is now a significant need for them to gain a better understanding of the conditions that determine each others spheres of activity, and it is hoped that this report will be able to contribute something to that understanding.
This paper examines the role of NGOs in rebuilding socio-political order in South Sudan. It describes the socio-political determinants of the last ten years which will throw some light on the political stage in South Sudan and might contribute to the main question of who really has the political power and influence in South Sudan today. ; CONTENTS -- History of the conflict and INGO-involvement -- Present situation -- INGOs in South Sudan – The role of OLS -- The relationship between SPLM/A-SRRA and INGOs -- The 'Agreement on Ground-Rules'and the 'Memorandum of Understanding' between OLS/INGOs and SPLM -- Dimensions of the political impact of INGOs -- INGOs as peace-makers or war-mongers?Creating normality in an abnormal situation -- Shaping a ramshackle state: Ground-Rules as INGO-legislation and the Memorandum of Understanding as proxy for laws -- Civil society - The role of the churches, SINGOs, and new institutions
This report is the third overview by Filip Reyntjens on recent developments in Rwanda and Burundi. The first one "Talking or Fighting?" (published 1999) covered the period 1998-1999, the second one "Small States in an Unstable region"covered the period 1999-2000. In the new publication the political evolution of Rwanda and Burundi is investigated in a broader regional geopolitical context.
A major challenge to town planners in Britain is to help fulfil current and future housing need in a sustainable manner and avoid excessive development land take. This thesis therefore establishes what future development models are currently under debate and undertakes extensive research into Governments preferred option the 'Compact City'. Research focuses on empirical data for sustainable development and arguments for/against a policy of urban intensification. On conclusion that research alone fails to provide a sufficient basis for promoting a policy of 'Compact Cities', research emphasis was placed on the Dutch planning system, which has promoted such a policy for over a quarter of a century. Dutch experience was used to answer many unresolved arguments surrounding the 'Compact City' and an investigation was undertaken into how the Dutch have made this policy successful. In light of the fact that Dutch experience has shown that high quality urban housing is fundamental to attracting residents back to cities, an investigation of current UK generic housing models was undertaken and these were tested against sustainable density research and UK/Dutch design advice. On comparison it was established that many failed both tests and it was established that additional housing types could be required under a policy of 'Compact Cities'. An alternative development brief for additional housing models was therefore developed and this brief was investigated through the design of three alternative housing types. In final conclusion it was proposed that the Dutch treatment of density could provide a model for future planning in England and their design principles could aid the creation of alternative urban housing types.
The contributions to this Discussion Paper were prepared for a workshop on "Africa in the new millennium" held in Stockholm in May 2001. The idea of the workshop was not to counter "negative" perceptions of Africa with "positive" ones. Nor was it to arrive at finalised ideas or prescriptions for governments or the continent as a whole. The aim was to raise important questions, which may help contextualise and deal with the problems facing the continent. It was an attempt to go below the surface of immediate crises and open up a debate around Africa and its international relations. It is hoped that publication of these papers will encourage further debate, and contribute towards realising the goal of African recovery. ; CONTENTS -- Introduction/Raymond Suttner -- Political Reforms and Conflict Management in the African Democratic Transition/Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja -- Comments on Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja's contribution/Adebayo Olukoshi -- Globalisation and African Development/Yusuf Bangura -- Globalisation, Reforms and Growth in Africa: Some Comments/Steve Kayizzi-Mugerwa
Why is it that certain threat images appear on the political agenda and others do not? The issue of how a political agenda is set has been studied in a series of different contexts and with the aid of any number of different theoretical approaches. Man
This study examines the historical development, social, political and economic significance of gospel music in Zimbabwe. It approaches music with Christian theological ideas and popular appeal as a cultural phenomenon with manifold implications. Applying a history of religions approach to the study of a widespread religious phenomenon, the study seeks to link religious studies with popular culture. It argues that gospel music represents a valuable entry point into a discussion of contemporary African cultural production. Gospel music successfully blends the musical traditions of Zimbabwe, influences from other African countries, and musical styles from other parts of the world. Through the application of multiple methodological lenses, the study sets out to describe, analyse and interpret gospel music in Zimbabwe during the 1990s. It outlines the historical development of popular music in Zimbabwe, alongside locating the emergence of gospel music in the politically and economically challenging 1990s. The report captures the impact of Christianity on music performances, highlights the various groups of cultural workers who have derived opportunities from gospel music and undertakes an analysis of the context in which gospel music was able to thrive. Through an examination of dominant themes in Zimbabwean gospel music and its creative appropriation of various musical styles, the study illustrates the complexity underlying contemporary African artistic products. This study also seeks to bring to the fore the long-standing issue of the relationship between Christianity and African culture. Although many African theologians, nationalists, missiologists, Non-Governmental Organisation activists and other practitioners have proffered valuable insights, in most instances their efforts have been vitiated by a preoccupation with a frozen view of African culture. Many writers have tended to view African culture as a relic from some glorious past. Although this may please avid cultural nationalists, it obfuscates the inherently adaptive nature of African, and indeed of any other, culture. Consequently, in this study the focus is on gospel music as an integral part of contemporary African culture. By examining gospel music texts, performances by artists and audiences at gospel concerts and television presentations, the study contributes to the discourses on religion and public spaces. The report also brings to the fore the neglected theme of music and the construction of religious and other identities.
Understanding natural resources management requires an interdisciplinary approach. Through a number of case studies from the West African Sahel, this book links and explores natural resources management from the perspectives of three distinct but interrelated spheres (politics, property and production) and within a broad and empirically based political ecology. Natural resources management is first of all profoundly political. Seen from above, it is constantly the object of planning efforts where one 'master-plan' follows another, each sponsored by one of the major international donors. Policies and plans are again informed by global discourses of 'decentralisation', 'disengaging the State', 'democratisation' or 'desertification'. Seen from below, natural resources management is always the object of power struggles and politicisation linked to property rights to land. Property may in fact be one of the most comprehensive, yet at the same time most elusive, concepts in the natural resources debate. To say that someone has a 'right' to land is to summarise in one word a complex and highly conditional state of affairs. African and Sahelian land tenure is a field where property relations are multifarious, overlapping and competing. The prospects for African and Sahelian production systems and their influences on the environment are also contested. The conventional belief says that these systems are marked by agricultural stagnation and environmental degradation, but this is increasingly being questioned or qualified. Under certain policy environments production systems and resources seem to follow more optimistic paths. Such emerging experiences which cut against the grain of conventional perceptions of the Sahelian environment should encourage us to rethink both Sahelian research and policy formulation. ; Contents: Politics, Property and Production: Understanding Natural Resources Management in the West African Sahel / Tor A. Benjaminsen, Christian Lund -- Part 1: Politics -- Transformations Informelles et Marchés Fonciers Emergents en Afrique / Paul Mathieu -- Politics in a Sahelian Town: Dori and the Art of Alliance / Christian Lund -- Power, Pastures and Politics: Boreholes and the Decentralization of Local Resource Management in Northern Senegal / Kristine Juul -- Politics, Development and Custom: People's Struggle for Evasion in Yatenga, Burkina Faso / Lars Engberg Pedersen -- Inside Government Extension Agencies: A Comparison of Four Agencies in the Sikasso Region of Mali / Tove Degnbol -- History, Continuity and Change in Fulani Resource Regime / Trond Vedeld -- Part 2: Property Questioning some Assumptions about Land Tenure / Christian Lund -- Droit de Communage ("Commons"), et Pastoralisme au Sahel: Quel Avenir pour les Eleveurs Sahéliens? / Brigitte Thébaud -- Tuareg Notions of Space and Place in Northern Mali / Gunnvor Berge -- Fishing at Home and Abroad: Access to Waters in Niger's Central Delta and the Effects of Work Migration / Eyolf Jul-Larsen and Bréhima Kassibo -- Part 3: Production -- Overcoming Variability and Productivity Constraints in Sahelian Agriculture / Michael Mortimore -- The Malian Cotton Zone: Economic Success, but Environmental Failure? / Tor A. Benjaminsen -- The Dynamics of Inequality in the Sahel: Agricultural Productivity, Income Diversification, and Food Security among the Fulani Rimaïbe in Northern Burkina Faso / Simon Bolwig -- Agricultural Expansion and Animal Husbandry in a West African Savannah Environment / Peter Oksen
During the year 2000 an initiative among the African states to transform the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) into the African Union (AU) gained momentum. It resulted in the ratification of the Constitutive Act and its adoption at the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in July 2001 in Lusaka. Parallel to this process of reorganisation towards closer inter-state collaboration on the African continent in the spirit of Pan Africanism emerged the systematic effort to redefine developmental priorities and to claim a new common position of African states in the globalised world. The "African Renaissance" initiative of South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki resulted in a "Millenium Africa Recovery Programme", which was finally revised and presented as the "New Africa Initiative" (NAI). Adopted at the same OAU Summit in Lusaka in July 2001, the NAI serves as a blueprint for Africa's development strategy at the beginning of the 21st century. It was presented to the G8 summit in Genoa, where the leaders of the world's powerful countries decided on a follow up by appointing individual special advisers to explore support to the NAI and future collaboration on the basis of this document. This paper offers a preliminary assessment of the New Africa Initiative within the context of the transformation of the OAU into the AU. It identifies and summarises essential new aspects advocated, critically examines the degree of realism and points at the possible limitations. The analysis also considers first reactions to the initiatives and reflects on the perspectives.
This book is about the multitude of associations that has emerged in African cities in recent years. In many cases, they are a response to mounting poverty, failing infrastructure and services, and more generally, weak and abdicating urban governments. Some associations are new, in other cases existing organisations are taking on new tasks. Associations may be neighbourhood-based, others may be city-wide and based on professional groupings or a shared ideology or religion. Still others have an ethnic base. ; CONTENTS -- Coping through informal network -- Religion and Identity -- Land and Housing -- Services -- Emerging initiatives
