$2
Abdelali Doumou
CODESRIA, 1987, 172 p
ISBN 2-86978-001-x
Décentralisation sans représentation: Le charbon de bois entre les collectivités locales et l’Etat
La présente étude porte sur deux villages d’une collectivité locale du Sénégal. Elle consiste en une analyse de la problématique de la représentation politique locale, à travers la production de charbon de bois dans une forêt dont la gestion est dévolue aux élus locaux depuis la loi de la décentralisation, en 1996, par le biais des compétences transférées. Cette étude montre que si l’on retient comme critère l’obligation des élus de rendre compte aux administrés villageois et de répondre à leurs aspirations, en matière d’exploitation forestière, l’effet politique de la décentralisation est plutôt faible en termes de promotion de la démocratie locale. D’autre part, la répartition déséquilibrée des pouvoirs et ressources entre l’État et la collectivité locale explique, dans une certaine mesure, la faible efficacité des élus locaux en matière forestière, ainsi que les dysfonctionnements du couple déconcentration/- décentralisation. En matière d’exploitation forestière, l’action publique locale reste limitée par le poids des intérêts partisans, le manque de transparence et de répartition claire des rôles et responsabilités au sein du conseil rural. Le document se termine par un certain nombre de recommandations dont la mise en application devrait aider à améliorer la GRN au niveau des communautés rurales, notamment en rendant les conseillers ruraux plus responsables vis-à-vis de ceux qui les ont élus.
Challenges to Identifying and Managing Intangible Cultural Heritage in Mauritius, Zanzibar and Seychelles (Printed)
Africa is richly blessed with cultural and natural heritage, key resources for nation building and development. Unfortunately, heritage is not being systematically researched or recognised, denying Africans the chance to learn about and benefit from heritage initiatives. This book offers a preliminary discussion of factors challenging the management of intangible cultural heritage in the African communities of Zanzibar, Mauritius and Seychelles. These islands are part of an overlapping cultural and economic zone influenced by a long history of slavery and colonial rule, a situation that has produced inequalities and underdevelopment. In all of them, heritage management is seriously underfinanced and under-resourced. African descendant heritage is given little attention and this continues to erode identity and sense of belonging to the nation. In Zanzibar tensions between majority and minority political parties affect heritage initiatives on the island. In Mauritius, the need to diversify the economy and tourism sector is encouraging the commercialisation of heritage and the homogenisation of Creole identity. In Seychelles, the legacy of socialist rule affects the conceptualisation and management of heritage, discouraging managers from exploring the island’s widerange of intangible heritages. The author concludes that more funding and attention needs to be given to heritage management in Africa and its diaspora. Rosabelle Boswell is a senior lecturer in the Anthropology Department at Rhodes University, South Africa and a specialist of the southwest Indian Ocean islands. Her research interests include ethnicity, heritage, gender and development. Boswell’s PhD was on poverty and identity among Creoles in Mauritius and her most recent work is onthe role of scent and fragrances in the heritage of the Swahili islands of the Indian Ocean region.
African Literature as Political Philosophy (Printed)
The politics of development in Africa have always been central concerns of the continent’s literature. Yet ideas about the best way to achieve this development, and even what development itself should look like, have been hotly contested.
African Literature as Political Philosophy looks in particular at Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah and Petals of Blood by Ngugi wa Thiong’o, but situates these within the broader context of developments in African literature over the past half-century, discussing writers from Ayi Kwei Armah to Wole Soyinka. M.S.C. Okolo provides a thorough analysis of the authors’ differing approaches and how these emerge from the literature. She shows the roots of Achebe’s reformism and Ngugi’s insistence on revolution and how these positions take shape in their work. Okolo argues that these authors have been profoundly affected by the political situation of Africa, but have also helped to create a new African political philosophy.
Ghana: One Decade of the Liberal State (Printed)
« This is a ground-breaking, nuanced and comprehensive book that grapples with how developing countries in general and Ghana in particular have endured and responded to a decade of neo-liberal ascendancy. Based on astute research, experiences and analysis, the book offers penetrating commentaries on recent socio-economic and political developments in Ghana. A « must-read » collection of excellent and stimulating ideas. » Mohamed Salih, Professor of Politics of Development, University of Leiden and the Institute of Social Studies, The Netherlands « This, the first book-length assessment of the latest experiment in liberal democracy in Ghana, is a timely study. It shows in an admirable way both the progress and the still existing shortcomings in the institutionalization of liberal democracy and will undoubtedly attract a wide readership in academic and policy-making circles. » Ghana has witnessed a « revolution through the ballot box » since its return to constitutional rule in 1993. Yet this period of sustained democratic government in an era of globalization and liberal triumphalism has brought with it new demands. How has Ghana faced up to the problems of institution-building, state-market relations and democratic leadership? Can it deal with the challenges posed by security, human rights and foreign policy in the twenty-first century? This unique collection interrogates all these issues and assesses the future of the democratic experiment in one of sub-Saharan Africa’s rare « islands of peace ». In doing so, it provides an invaluable guide to Ghana’s political past, present and future.
L’Afrique face aux enjeux de la citoyenneté et de l’inclusion: l’héritage de Mario de Andrade
A la 11ème Assemblée générale du CODESRIA qui s’est tenue à Maputo en décembre 2005, Carlos Lopes a prononcé le Discours Cheikh Anta Diop sur ‘L’Afrique face aux enjeux de la citoyenneté et de l’inclusion : l’héritage de Mário de Andrade’ de l’Angola. Il examine la vie et l’époque de Mário Andrade, le nationalisme africain et ses propositions révolutionnaires en plus des triomphes et vicissitudes de la négritude et du panafricanisme. Il analyse les conséquences pour les citoyens de ces pays, l’inclusion et le respect pour les identités. Il conclue son intervention par leurs implications de tous ces facteurs pour les intellectuels africains. A l’instar de Mario de Andrade qui détestait les rites associés au pouvoir et qui avait honte des notions de citoyenneté exclusivistes. Lopes fait une critique sur le nationalisme étroit qui met en danger le panafricanisme. Il fait appel aux intellectuels africains pour la dénonciation de ces pratiques dans l’intérêt des droits universels basés sur le principe que le développement amène plus d’opportunités et de liberté de choix.
Education Financing & Budgetary Reforms in Africa : The Swaziland Case ( Printed)
This book sets out the Swaziland educational model and policies, and in the context of the management of the national economy. It shows that the proportion of the annual government budget devoted to education in Swaziland ranks amoungst the highest in Africa and many of the goals set at the world summit for children in 1990 are being achieved. There is universal access of primary education, gender equality of access across almost all levels of education. The study also shows however that less positively, the system is increasingly under financial pressure particularly to fund the growing demand for higher education, comparatively very expensive. The co-authors advocate comprehensive budgetary and financial reforms drawing up a model in line with current policy directions to increase funding for tertiary education, and so release more funds for improving quality at lower levels.
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