African Studies Commons^™

The Impact Of Economic Structural Adjustment Programs [Esaps] On Women And Children: Implications For Social Welfare In Zimbabwe, Saliwe M. Kawewe, Robert Dibie

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study examines the impact of structural adjustment policy (SAP) on the welfare of Zimbabweans, particularly women and children and draws some parallels with economic policy in the US and its effect on social welfare programs and the poor. The paper argues that economic structural adjustment programs (ESAPs), introduced by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund as major international financial institutions in economic globalization, have been an inappropriate public policy for Zimbabwe. These economic reforms inflate poverty, decrease the country's capability to develop a strong diversified domestic economy, increase the exploitation of workers through deregulation accompanied by environmental …

The Handling Of Taxpayers' Money: African Examples, Samuel N. Woode

New England Journal of Public Policy

The emerging fragile democracies of Africa are grappling to meet such imperatives of good governance as integrity, transparency, openness, and accountability. Perhaps nowhere in the conduct of the public’s business are they more necessary than in accounting for the use of resources to check fraud, abuse, and waste. This essay summarizes reports of auditors general in some African countries, providing comparative insight into how and in what areas these offenses occur. The author hopes that such knowledge will lead African public servants to a better appreciation of what, in a sense, constitutes the Achilles’ heel in their countries’ public administration …

Responding To Innuendo: A Case From The Ivory Coast, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes some of the psychological Issues involved in successfully responding to political innuendo.

Trends. The Attack On Mbeki: Praising Through Damning, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses the controversial contention by President Thabo Mbeki of the Republic of South Africa that poverty and lack of health infrastructures are the causes of AIDS and HIV in Africa instead of limiting his analysis to the biological line of virus inducing disease.

A Future Of Human And Civil Rights In Zimbabwe: Ideology And Outcome Research, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes two common approaches to achieving human and civil rights and what may be needed to select among these and other approaches.

The Political Psychology Of Embargoes: An Example From The Eritrean-Ethiopian War, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes psychological inferences embraced by supporters and opponents of embargoes as tools to prevent, end, or moderate political violence between nation-states.

Neutrality, Peacekeeping, And Globalization: Problems For The United Nations In Africa, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes problems facing the United Nations as it seeks to effect its global mandate to foster peace, resolve conflict, and otherwise contribute to human welfare.

Trends. Money Walks, Nobody Talks Ii: United States Trade With Sub-Saharan Africa, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses the stance of the United States Business and Industry Council against a trade bill designed to facilitate sub-Saharan apparel exports to the United States.

Ibpp Research Associates: Botswana, Ditso Anneleng

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses educational and legal issues surrounding students from Botswana enrolled in an alleged fake educational institution - African Media University in South Africa.

Journalism And Unconscious Racism: A Perspective From South Africa, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes psychological problems in accurately identifying racism in public policy discourse.

Trends. Hissen Habre And Human Rights: Right Or Wrong?, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses which high authorities (or national leaders), inside a given country and outside it, may be held accountable for human rights violations in given place.

Psychological Pathways To Minimizing Human Rights Violations Against Children, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article identifies several psychological pathways that governments and human rights organizations can employ to minimize human rights violations against children.

Trends. Terra Incognita: Video Diplomacy, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses the potential political psychological consequences of video diplomacy between United States president, Bill Clinton (with whom the diplomatic video originated) and a group of political, military, and paramilitary leaders in Burundi.

Trends. Does Ethnic Cleansing Have Pros And Cons? An Example From Burundi, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses ethnic cleansing (using Burundi as a case study) in the context of physical security.

Ibpp Research Associates - Perspective From Ghana On Terrorism, Staff Writer – The Ghanaian Times

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The article - No Peace in Isolation by a staff writer at The Ghanaian Times - discusses terrorism as an international issue.

No. 17: Writing Xenophobia: Immigration And The Press In Post-Apartheid South Africa, Ransford Danso, David A. Mcdonald

Southern African Migration Programme

The mass media have become one of the most important institutions in modern society, playing a role not only in our learning and education, but also in how we see opportunities for change and improvements in our lives. For these reasons, the media are seen as a powerful vehicle for social transformation and development, and have drawn increasing attention towards themselves in contemporary society. The print media (ie newspapers) are particularly important in this respect, given that the press has traditionally been a provider of information on daily events and, for many people, are the only source of information about …

No. 18: Losing Our Minds: Skills Migration And The South African Brain Drain, Jonathan Crush

Southern African Migration Programme

Many countries, South Africa included, are in a panic about skills emigration – the so-called “brain drain.” One business-oriented institute even thinks that South Africa’s skills shortage is so “desperate” that the country should immediately throw open its borders to anyone who wishes to enter. Yet most South Africans are ambiguous about the wisdom of using immigration policy to offset skills loss. Immigration, no matter how selective and tightly controlled, arouses nationalist passions and causes moral panics.

Anti-immigrationists argue that governments are supposed to protect citizens from “outsiders”; not let them in to compete with locals for jobs and resources. …

No. 19: Botswana: Migration Perspectives And Prospects, Johan Oucho, Eugene Campbell, Elizabeth Mukamaambo

Southern African Migration Programme

The Southern African Migration Project (SAMP) is committed to supporting basic research on the dimensions, causes and consequences of cross-border and internal migration within the SADC region and to making the results accessible to a range of partners. We believe that a well-informed policy-maker or official is more likely to appreciate the workability of policy choices in the area of migration and immigration management. Policies based on poor or misleading information will not only fail but could have negative unintended consequences. From a human rights perspective, we are concerned that without accurate information about migration, decisions may be made which …

No. 20: The Brain Gain: Skilled Migrants And Immigration Policy In Post-Apartheid South Africa, Robert Mattes, Jonathan Crush, W. Richmond

Southern African Migration Programme

South African immigration policy has become extremely restrictive since 1994. Immigration numbers are at an all-time low, even as emigration accelerates. The number of temporary work permits issued has also declined at a time when South Africa has reconnected to the global economy and many companies and investors wish to import high-level skills. Immigration is not viewed as a public policy tool that could benefit South Africa. Immigrants and migrants (even the most highly skilled) are more often stereotyped as a threat to the economic and social interests of South Africans.

Why has South Africa’s first democratic government taken such …

Kenyan Women And The Harambee: Community Development Or Unpaid Work?, Anne Gathuo

Trotter Review

Since gaining independence from Britain in 1963, the Kenyan government has encouraged self-help activity, known as "harambee" which is aimed at supplementing government efforts in the provision of social services. The term harambee conjures positive images of community spirit and people pooling together for a common cause. Indeed, the term is synonymous to community development. The United Nations Report on Community Development and Economic Development defines community development as the process by which the efforts of the people themselves are combined with those of government authorities to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of communities, to integrate these communities …

Responding To Poverty Through Community Development: The Role Of Women In South Africa, Junette Davids

Trotter Review

The World Bank reported that during the past three decades the developing world has made enormous economic progress. This is illustrated in the rising trend for incomes and consumption: between 1965 and 1985 consumption per capita in the developing world went up by almost 70%. Midgley, also reported that developing countries have recorded high rates of economic growth, achieved high degrees of industrialization and made significant social progress. Given this scenario one would assume that poverty has also decreased markedly. However, even though some developing countries have recorded high rates of economic growth, achieved high degrees of industrialization, and made …

White Women, Black Revolutionaries: Sex And Politics In Four Novels By Nadine Gordimer, Nancy Topping Bazin

English Faculty Publications

As early as 1959, the white South African novelist, essayist, and short story writer Nadine Gordimer wrote an essay, "Where Do Whites Fit In?" As the black struggle for power intensified and finally achieved its primary goal of black majority rule in 1994, Gordimer continued to reflect upon this question. Her eighth novel, July's People (1981), is a psychological and political fable. It celebrates a white woman's readiness to reject the relationships and privileges that bind her to the white world and her readiness to embrace the new South Africa of an emancipated black majority. The novels written before July's …

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors, Sandra F. Joireman

Political Science Faculty Publications

A ceasefire in the border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea is only the beginning of the process of conflict resolution that must occur for peace to take hold. The border war is the result of long standing distrust and animosity between these two countries. Therefore the possibility of the conflict erupting into violence again is high unless serious internal and international effort is put into the demarcation of the border and the acceptance of that demarcated border as fair.

Ethiopia And Eritrea: Border War, Sandra F. Joireman

Political Science Faculty Publications

The war between Ethiopia and Eritrea—two of the poorest countries in the world—began in 1998. Eritrea was once part of the Ethiopian empire, but it was colonized by Italy from 1869 to 1941. Following Italy's defeat in World War II, the United Nations determined that Eritrea would become part of Ethiopia, though Eritrea would maintain a great deal of autonomy. In 1961 Ethiopia removed Eritrea's independence, and Eritrea became just another Ethiopian province. In 1991 following a revolution in Ethiopia, Eritrea gained its independence. However, the borders between Ethiopia and Eritrea had never been clearly marked. Following arguments and skirmishes, …

The Social And Economic Status Of Eritrean Women: Advances And Reversals, Asgedet Stefanos

Trotter Review

In assessing the post-independence status of women in Eritrea, I want to pose two questions. First, how did the leadership of the national liberation movement, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), embark on promoting women's emancipation, given the attitudes firmly rooted in the minds of both men and women that ran counter to the idea of an emancipated woman? Secondly, what changes were established in Eritrean women's public and personal lives during the national liberation struggle — in politics, economics, and the social realm?

This is an excerpt of the speech delivered by Asgedet Stefanos at the 20th Anniversary of …