African Studies Commons^™

"Anchor States" In U.S. Africa Policy And The "Big States" Controversy, Stephen F. Burgess

Journal of African Policy Studies

A question in African international relations is whether or not "big states" are capable of exercising hegemony in African sub-regions. U.S. policy towards Africa has included a focus on "anchor states" that appear to possess both the size and the capability of playing a lead role in stabilizing and leading their respective sub-regions. One of the criticisms of the policy focus is based upon the argument that "big states" are weaker and less stable than small states and that big states are bound to be destabilized by the burden of sub-regional hegemony and leadership in peace and stability operations. The …

Cover And Table Of Contents, Institute On African Affairs

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

Secessionism In Africa, Edmond J. Keller

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

Finance For Development And Developing Countries: The Preconditions Revisited, David E. Amadasu

Journal of African Policy Studies

Increasing the rate of inputs- private foreign direct investments to accelerate development in LDCs or developing countries has not been attained over the years. The reason is that more poverty stares the faces of the people in these countries. This is the problem. The literature has said that accelerating development through the rate of inputs has preconditions of friendly environment, sound macroeconomic policies, absorptive capacity, competitiveness of the market, capital accumulation, technology assistance, etc, for private investment to strive. But the situation has not changed much. Do we not need to revisit the preconditions? Consider the non-economic, i.e., personality traits, …

Population Increase, Environment, Food Access And Development In Africa: The Role Of The African Union, Amado J. Kaba

Journal of African Policy Studies

This paper examines the impact of the massive population increase in Africa in the post World War II era and the environmental challenges the continent confronts in trying to feed such a high number of people. The paper is divided into three sections. The first section examines the demographics of Africa, which show that the continent has increased its total population by 750 million people from 1950 to 2008. The second section of this paper then presents arguments by scholars pertaining to the environmental challenges, especially for agriculture, facing Africa as it finds ways to feed this massive number of …

Pathologies In De-Bureaucratic Public Organizations In Nigeria, Joseph E. Imhanlahimi

Journal of African Policy Studies

Because of the nouveau and rapidly growing interests in, and acceptance of, de-bureaucratization (popularly called "deregulation" in Nigeria), as a more attractive organization concept than bureaucratization, the central concern of this paper is an identification and objective analysis of bureau-pathologies in de-bureaucratic public organizations in Nigeria, in response to those of bureaucratic organizations which have already been analysed in the literature. The major and prevalent bureau-pathologies identified and analyzed are inconsistency and unpredictability, informality and denials, unlimited or uncircumscribed flexibility, personalization, limitation of de-categorization, laziness, and goal displacement. Their effects can be summarized as the prevalence of worrying degree of …

Cover And Table Of Contents, Institute On African Affairs

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

Economic Growth And Exchange Rate In Sierra Leone: An Empirical Investigation, Abu Bakarr Tarawalie, Oluwole Owoye

Journal of African Policy Studies

This paper investigates the relationship between economic growth and exchange rate in Sierra Leone for the period 1970-2005. We followed the lead of Edwards (1989, 1988) and Elbadawi (1994) within an error-correction model (ECM) to identify the determinants of the real effective exchange rate, and we specified a real output growth equation to capture not only the effect of real effective exchange rate on real GDP growth, but also to establish the relative effectiveness of fiscal and monetary policy on real output growth during the review period. Our empirical results suggest that the terms of trade, nominal exchange rate devaluation, …

From Importer To Exporter: The Changing Role Of Nigeria In Promoting Democratic Values In Africa, J. Shola Omotola

Journal of African Policy Studies

This paper takes a critical look at Nigeria's changing role in the promotion of democratic values in Africa since its return to democracy in 1999. The paper argues that the changing role of Nigeria from an importer to an exporter of democracy can be understood in terms of the global wind of change; Nigeria's African centre-piece policy; perception of threats to its leadership position in Africa especially from South Africa; and the personality of Obasanjo given his international credentials and stature. The paper however notes that inherent contradictions in the domestic political economy such as nsmg poverty, inequality and politics …

Information, Public Policy Analysis And Sustainable Development In Nigeria, Joseph E. Imhanlahimi, M. O. Ikeanyibe

Journal of African Policy Studies

Information and public policy analysis are critical factors in adequate public policy formulation, implementation and evaluation if the public good is to be achieved in Nigeria. This paper has carried out a critical examination of the interface between information and the public policy process and the effect on public policy analysis and has found that there is a crucial interrelationship among them in order to promote sustainable development. The paper found that the interrelationship is however, seriously interfered with or obstructed by a variety of dominant constraints. The constraints include inadequate human capital, financial resources, large-scale secrecy in government business, …

Cover And Table Of Contents, Institute On African Affairs

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

The Problems Of Financing Library Services, David E. Amadasu, Matilda Ebahi Amadasu

Journal of African Policy Studies

Funding of libraries is a problem whether in Nigeria or anywhere in the world. The reason is that libraries are relegated to the background economically or otherwise when competing with facilities or products for limited budget or financial resources. More importantly is the fact that library service is incorporeal and cannot stand political selection. The library service does not enjoy the status of economic or private goods susceptible to price or excludability and public or social goods for which price cannot exclude users. This is the significance of library service or circulation and should therefore attract or enjoy enough budgetary …

Of Corruption And Anti-Corruption Strategies In Nigeria: The More You Look The Less You See, Sylvester Olubani Fajonyomi

Journal of African Policy Studies

This statement from the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria reflects the outcome of the regime's efforts at fighting corruption in its first four years (1999-2003) in office: "Some members of the Nigerian public have expressed their opinion to the effect (that) our anti-corruption crusade in the last four years has been deficient in credibility because it appeared to lack the support of the Federal Executive Council who only rarely expressed their support in public. The situation has to change with the new cabinet. Each and every one of you must do more than give a nodding support for …

Public Policy Making At The State Level In Nigeria: A Review Of Contemporary Developments, A. Sat Obiyan

Journal of African Policy Studies

This paper examines public policy making at the second tier level of government, namely the state, in Nigeria. It adopts a comparative approach by looking at the state of policy making under the current democratic government and the immediate past military regimes. Questionnaires were administered to some bureaucrats for this study. It found that personality of the individual leader and his perception of governance was a crucial variable in explaining the nature and pattern of public policy at the state level in the country. These factors were relevant regardless of the nature of government.

In addition, while the paper recognizes …

The Making Of South Africa's Foreign Policy Towards Peacekeeping And Conflict Resolution In Africa: Choices, Constraints And Prospects, Solomon Hailu

Journal of African Policy Studies

Post-apartheid South Africa is at the center of efforts to build greatly expended African self-help peacekeeping capacity. The study provides an important focus of analysis on South Africa's vision, ambitions and influence on the evolving practices of African security and sustained economic development. It is the concern of this study to relate and investigate the interplay between South Africa's own ambitions and willingness of other parties to encourage its leadership roles.

South Africa's political stability, military capacity and commitment to and African orientations in its foreign policy (as expressed in President Thabo Mbeki's African Renaissance and the Millennium African Plan, …

Political Parties And Factionalism In Nigeria's Fourth Republic: Their Impact On Political Stability, Adele J. Bamgbose

Journal of African Policy Studies

The desire to transform a nation's political system through organized political parties forms the bedrock of a genuine patriotism to move the country forward. When such patriotism becomes pseudo in nature through factions which produce strife leading to stresses and strains and other discord of malfunctioning organizations, the grand political edifice constructed through a genuine patriotism begins to crumble, and in a poetical manner, things will begin to fall apart and the center will no longer hold. This in a nutshell describes the Nigerian party system from inception. Thus, the enthusiasm that metamorphosed into the creation of political parties in …

Challenges And Opportunities Of Agricultural Research In The Sudan, Allam Ahmed

Journal of African Policy Studies

National research institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are under increasing governmental pressure to make direct and visible contributions to national research and development strategies. Although Sudan is a predominately agricultural economy, crop productivity is extremely low and does not exceed thirty percent of the level attained in research farms. The aim of this paper is to develop a framework for analyzing problems and identifying opportunities to strengthen African research institutions' role in development-oriented research. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate the implementation capacity constraints, which exist in formal agricultural research, and the impact this has on …

Cover And Table Of Contents, Institute On African Affairs

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

Book Reviews, Ogwo Jombo Umeh, Abraham Mbachirin

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

Technology Spillovers From Foreign Direct Investment: Recent Empirical Findings—A Review, Khaled Elmawazini

Journal of African Policy Studies

This paper reviews the theory and the empirical studies on the hypothesis that FDI may generate technology spillovers to the host countries. There are five sources affecting the scope and significance of the technology spillovers from FDI: (1) linkages between foreign affiliates and local firms, (2) R&D efforts undertaken by MNC affiliates, (3) training of local firms in the foreign affiliates, (4) demonstration effects, and (5) ownership sharing of foreign affiliates.

The study concludes that: (1) The literature and empirical evidence show mixed support for the hypothesis that FDI yields positive spillovers to the host countries. (2) Backward linkages are …

Standardization Or Modification? Uk Firms' Marketing Strategy In Africa, Maktoba Omar, A. Vindelyn Smith-Hillman

Journal of African Policy Studies

The paper aims to identify those factors that influence UK multinational corporations' policy of standardisation within African economies. This is an important strategic issue as foreign direct investment within Africa represents a small but growing proportion of total FDI inflows. Regression analysis reveals that political risk is statistically significant as are cultural factors, whilst regulation proved to statistically insignificant.

Efficiency Processes In Egyptian Enterprises: Current Status In A Transition Economy, Samir S. Youssef

Journal of African Policy Studies

Taking the view that business organizations are essentially resource transformation agents aimed at satisfying societal needs for goods and services and, in effect, improving quality of life, this paper examines the impact of the transition stage forces on the efficiency processes in business organizations within the Egyptian economy, an economy that is still developing free market institutions.

Sustainable Agricultural Development In Nigeria: A Question Of Biotechnology, Environmental Conservation, Or Indigenous Knowledge?, Emmanuel O. Oritsejafor

Journal of African Policy Studies

Nigeria, like most developing countries, depends on agriculture primarily for subsistence and export revenues. However, Nigeria is confronted with food security challenges. Several factors have contributed to this problem, such as demographic trends, crude farming methods, deforestation, the oil boom and public policies that are not consistent with the socio-economic and political realities of the state.

Given these challenges, this inquiry will examine the socio-economic and environmental implications of recent recommendations by development agencies such as the United Nations Development Agency (UNDP), which has prescribed the use of biotechnology to address Africa's food security problems. This recommendation appears to be …

Cover And Table Of Contents, Institute On African Affairs

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

Sustainable Tourism In Kenya: An Analysis Of Tourism Policy Currently Under Consideration, Jacquelyne Muhati

Journal of African Policy Studies

This paper examines tourism policy in Kenya in the context of sustainable tourism development. It considers the critical factors that might hinder the development of the sector and highlights the shortcomings in the policy development. It will give a general review of policy development and its significance in Kenya. There will also be an analysis of the key issues in the current policy development in Kenya, and finally, consideration is given to the aspects of policy that the current policy makers should pay attention to in relation to the strategic approach to sustainable tourism development. With the growing economic significance …

The Challenge Of Crafting And Maintaining Democracy In Zimbabwe And South Africa, Robert W. Compton Jr.

Journal of African Policy Studies

This paper examines the impact of land reform policies on the political development of South Africa and Zimbabwe. In particular, it focuses on the past policy approaches to land reform, principally the "willing seller and able buyer" market approach in the context of past injustices involving land reform. The politics of land reform and the inability of the hegemonic parties in South Africa and Zimbabwe, the African national Congress (ANC) and Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) respectively, to implement satisfactory policy contributes to negative political and economic consequences for both countries. Simultaneously, opposition parties in both countries, in particular the …

The Future Of Monetary Integration In Southern Africa: Lessons From The European Union?, Richard Dutu, Donald L. Sparks

Journal of African Policy Studies

The 14-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) has a long-term goal of becoming a full common market. A major component of fuller integration would be a common currency arrangement. The states of southern Africa, however, face a dilemma: While the region already sustains a successful and long-running monetary union, the Common Monetary Area (CMA, known as the "Rand Zone"), the region's leading economic integration organization, the SADC, is opposed to joining the union.

The Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA)—a less successful, but rival economic organization—favors, for its part, a monetary union. Is the SADC ready for monetary …

Smes In Developing Countries And The Problem Of Exporting: Market Entry Costs, Exchange Rate Shocks And The Capital Structure Of Firms, Trond-Arne Borgersen

Journal of African Policy Studies

This paper integrates a sunk-cost model of foreign trade with a discussion on the capital structure of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. A model of foreign trade where firms have to incur irrecoverable market entry costs in international markets is presented. As a result of the market entry costs the foreign trade structure is non-linear. This non-linearity complicates the relationship between foreign trade flows and exchange rates, compared to the predictions of conventional foreign trade theory. Both the entry and the operating decision are affected, as the non-linearity puts pressure on the capital structure of firms. In …

Cover And Table Of Contents, Institute On African Affairs

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

Civil Conflict And Aids: Implications For Post-Conflict Sierra Leone, Marda Mustapha

Journal of African Policy Studies

This paper discusses the civil conflict in Sierra Leone and its role in the transmission of HIV in the country, including the activities and role of the military population in the conflict and the spread of HIV. The paper also assesses the present capacity of the government of Sierra Leone to handle a possible explosion of the disease and the implications for HIV/AIDS in post-conflict Sierra Leone. The paper concludes with some policy suggestions for post-conflict Sierra Leone regarding possible responses to the pandemic.