This book presents an interdisciplinary perspective on the large-scale processes of socio-economic and political change of two "young" democracies: post-apartheid South Africa and the post-socialist Czech Republic. As the political transition in both countries coincides with the intensified effects of globalization, especially with the advent of neoliberal economic ideologies and policies, the two countries exhibit a number of common features and parallels in their respective transitions and post-developments. The book's chapters describe the particular place(s) South Africa and the Czech Republic occupy in the dual processes of internationalization and globalization. (Series: International Politics / Internationale Politik - Vol. 19) [Subject: Politics, Economics, European Studies, African Studies]
Africa is on the move. New geopolitical constellations have prompted individuals and groups to escape war, authoritarian regimes, environmental crises, and poverty. This has led to multiple migration patterns and complex mobilities of African people within and outside of Africa. This volume demonstrates that there is no unifying way to conceptualise the multiple nature of African mobilities. Some authors have conceptualised mobility on a metaphorical level while others provide analyses along spatial movement. This volume offers a vast portrayal of the diversity, innovation and richness of African mobile experiences through geographical, linguistic and socio-political domains. Providing nuanced and complex analyses offered by African Studies scholars of various disciplines, this book aims to contribute to new insights into African mobile experiences and to a repositioning of how Africa is represented globally.
The book presents a broad and multi-dimensional perspective on the topic of knowledge production in and of Africa and seeks changing its post-imperial pattern. This endeavour reflects the concern that in our globalised world, Africa is misrepresented twice: by the ways knowledge about it is selected by gatekeepers of knowledge, and by deliberate suppression of knowledge on Africa. The contributions to this volume address diverse aspects of knowledge production: they examine the existing knowledge-producing frontiers in Africa; they challenge methodological and theoretical universalisms in social science scholarship on the African continent; they look into the interface between the indigenous and modern knowledge systems and the role of African epistemologies and intellectuals in the production of knowledge.
French interventionism in African countries often faces accusation of postcolonialism. Although President Hollande announced that France would build equal relations towards African states, he decided to intervene in Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR). Contributing to understandings of France's Africa policy, this thesis compares the legitimization discourse of French military operations in Mali and the CAR. It provides new findings by examining postcolonial legitimization strategies as well as contrasting strategies based on equal partnership through a qualitative content analysis. Jasmin Auerbach completed her master's degree in Political Science at the Leibniz University Hannover. Her research focus is peace and conflict studies. The appendix of the book is available here as a free download
Building on global interest in migration development, the volume draws attention to one of the most important migration systems in sub-Saharan Africa. It reviews South Africa’s approach to international migration in the post-apartheid period from a regional development perspective, highlighting key policy issues, debates, and consequences. The authors find at least three areas where migration is resulting in important development impacts. First, by offering options to those affected by conflict and crises in a region that has limited formal disaster management and social protection systems. Second, by mitigating shortcomings and distortions in regional labour markets. Third, by providing support to struggling rural economies and ever expanding urban areas in terms of livelihoods and social capital transfers. Chapter One consists of a study of the country’s historical experience of migration and, in particular, analyses the changes in official attitudes throughout the twentieth century, indicating the roots of contemporary ideas and policy dilemmas. Chapters Two, Three, Four and Five complement this analysis of the South African State’s capacity to reform and manage the South African migration situation by looking at often neglected dimensions: the first explores the question of skilled labour, a crucial question given the unbalanced structure of the South African labour market; the second examines the impact of migration on local government in South African cities and specifically implications for urban planning, service delivery, health, security, and political accountability; the third analyses the nature of undocumented migration to South Africa and the challenges it raises to both State and non-State actors; The book concludes with an examination of health as a critical issue when examining the relationship between migration and development in South Africa, in light of recent empirical data.
This paper draws on a unique data set on the nontraditional systemic liquidity easing measures recently undertaken by many emerging market economies. It offers an empirical analysis of the key determinants affecting the decision to undertake these measures over the period September 2008-March 2009. The paper finds that economy size, access to international credit markets, CDS spreads, currency depreciation, and current account balances are among the key factors influencing the adoption of these measures. It provides a rationale for the differences in central bank policy responses, which reflect differences in economic structures rather than conflicting views on fundamental principles. The paper also provides a preliminary assessment of the effectiveness of these measures and points out that despite their positive impacts, they have not fully shielded the real economy from the recent financial meltdown.
Budget literacy is defined as 'the ability to read, decipher, and understand public budgets to enable and enhance meaningful citizen participation in the budget process'. It is comprised of two main parts - (i) a technical understanding of public budgets, including familiarity with government spending, tax rates and public debt and; (ii) the ability to engage in the budget process, comprising of practical knowledge on day-to-day issues, as well as an elementary understanding of the economic, social and political implications of budget policies, the stakeholders involved and when and how to provide inputs during the annual budget cycle. Given that no international standards or guidelines have been established for budget literacy education to date, this book seeks to address this gap by taking stock of illustrative initiatives promoting budget literacy for youth in selected countries. The underlying presumption is that when supply-side actors in the budget process -- governments -- simplify and disseminate budget information for demand-side actors -- citizens -- this information will then be used by citizens to provide feedback on the budget. However, since citizens are often insufficiently informed about public budgets to constructively participate in budget processes one way to empower them and to remedy the problem of "budget illiteracy" is to provide budget-literacy education in schools to youth, helping them evolve into civic-minded adults with the essential knowledge needed for analyzing their government's fiscal policy objectives and measures, and the confidence and sense of social responsibility to participate in the oversight of public resources. This book elaborates on approaches, learning outcomes, pedagogical strategies and assessment approaches for budget literacy education, and presents lessons that are relevant for the development, improvement, or scaling up of budget literacy initiatives.
This book provides an overview of the disaster risk assessment and financing practices of a broad range of economies. It draws on the G20/OECD Framework for Disaster Risk Assessment and Risk Financing and is based on a survey covering 29 economies.
Here is a review of worldwide economic, political, cultural and educational changes since the beginning of the 1980s, examining new trends in educational governance. It describes the processes of globalization and shows how national education systems have responded. The book explains how world education models have emerged in international agencies and traces the ways these models are borrowed, imitated, imposed and adapted as different countries reform primary and secondary education.
