Looking at the experiences of other federal societies across the globe this volume interrogates the problem of national integration within the context of ethno-religious and cultural pluralism, and presents exciting prospects for the resolution of the National Question. Compelling and indispensable, this work is the most comprehensive and authoritative treatment of the subject in recent years.
The world's first attempt at a scholarly historicisation of the African crisis of development, this book interrogates the problem of national integration within the context of ethno-religious and cultural pluralism. Here, top scholars offer refreshing insight into the prospects for transforming Africa into a super-power of the third millennium. The breadth and depth of coverage and analytical rigour unites the essays, providing one of the most comprehensive and authoritative treatments of the subject in recent years.
The book covers both the theoretical and practical aspects of the functioning of federal systems on the African continent. The reader gets an opportunity to familiarise him/herself in greater details with the Nigerian federation in its past and present, vis--vis the national question and the problem of fiscal federalism. The book also reveals the subject of ethnic federalism in its pure form as exemplified in Ethiopia Furthermore, analyses the use of hybrid, quasi-federative policy instruments in countries like Tanzania, Republic of South Africa, Sudan, Kenya and others. It addresses the issue of the opportunistic use of the federal idea, its abuse in various socio-economic and political circumstances (Nigeria), as well as the occasional and sometimes very short exposition of federalism (Madagascar) and confederalism (Senegambia). In general, the articles in the book present federalism from different angles, revealing the complex and contradictory nature of the concept and the ambiguous experience of its implementation in the African reality.
Africa is changing and it is easy to overlook how decentralization, democratization, and new forms of illiberalism have transformed federalism, political parties, and local politics. Chapters on Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and South Africa help fill an important gap in comparative institutional research about state and local politics in Africa.
This book is the first attempt at a scholarly historicisation of the African crisis of development. It interrogates the problem of national integration within the context of ethno-religious and cultural pluralism. Drawing on the experiences of other organ
The 1990s were marked by democratic reforms throughout Africa, which went in tandem with decentralization reforms. The chapters of the volume all highlight the gradual changes that have taken place since. Long-term structural uncodified factors – be it societal, economic, geographic, demographic – seem to have interacted with the constitutional clauses introduced during the reforms. Some chapters look at how decentralization slowly gave way to recentralization because none of the new subnational entities were politically and economically strong enough to balance off the center; some look at how inherent deficiencies in infrastructure and personnel at the subnational level brought the central government back in; some look at how different subnational units ended up working differently due to differences in demographic and social factors; some look at how uncodified factors came to determine how national politics functioned; some look at how decentralization created new conflicts between ethnic groups competing for the control of the new entities; some look at how decentralization blew new life into traditional authorities. This book was original published as a special issue of Regional and Federal Studies.
This collection of papers are the result of a conference on federalism held at the Centre for Federal Studies, University of Leicester. It provides a background to the crises in Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan and investigates the prospects for peace, political stability, and economic progress in this troubled area of the world. It argues that a federal, or at least a strongly regionalised system of government, could lay an important part in helping to bring internal peace to the countries of the Horn of Africa.
This edited collection explores how African governments have sought to decentralize power in order to enhance democratic governance. It offers a range of insightful case studies and makes a case for the usefulness of decentralization as a method of sharing power at all levels of society in Africa.
