How has democracy fared in Africa over the past 12 months? Nic Cheeseman argues that there’s evidence of democratic backsliding, peppered with some notable exceptions of good news stories. And he warns that next year is unlikely to be kind, with several challenging elections scheduled.
Today marks the start of a new series: Songs of Protest. As the zeitgeist’s soundtrack, protest music has dealt with wars – from Vietnam to Africa and Latin America - and against repression, racism and sexism. More recently there’s been a resurgence under the #BlackLivesMatter banner and reactions to Donald Trump’s election as US president. In the first of the series Abigail Gardner explains why the spectral protest song from 1981, “Ghost Town”, still remains relevant today.
For some background reading, our special edition today takes a look at a few of the really bad policies African countries pursued over the past year. Calestous Juma explains why Zambia needed to re-think its ban on the import of fruit and vegetables while Lars Laestadius analyses the unrealistic ambitions of Africa’s plans for a “Great Green Wall” of trees. For his part Earl Conteh-Morgan sounds a warning for the idea that weapons should form part and parcel of development aid. And, in Kenya, Leah Oyake-Ombis sheds light on why adopting biodegradable plastic bags may not work.
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A strong judiciary isn’t enough to keep democracy in place. Kenya’s Supreme Court decision nullifying the re-election of Uhuru Kenyatta is a case in point.
Reuters/Baz Ratner
Nic Cheeseman, University of Birmingham
The past 12 months provided further evidence of the danger of democratic backsliding in Africa. But it also saw powerful presidents suffer embarrassing setbacks in a number of countries.
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Arts + Culture
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Abigail Gardner, University of Gloucestershire
A 1981 odd and eerie protest song, 'Ghost Town', still resonates today. It remains a cry out against injustice, against closed off opportunities by those who have pulled the ladder up.
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Business + Economy
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Edward Webster, University of the Witwatersrand
Extensive research has been done on poverty and inequality in South Africa but more is needed to better understand the status quo and mainly inter-sectional factors that drive inequality.
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Health + Medicine
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Aku Kwamie, University of Ghana
For healthcare to be accessible, affordable and equal, policies and programmes that promote universal health coverage need to be based on evidence.
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Nigeria is a major tomato importer, despite having enough land to grow them.
Reuters/Akintunde Akinleye
Calestous Juma, Harvard University
Import bans in Africa are a poor substitute for the creation of incentives that enable
local producers to compete favourably.
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Lars Laestadius, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Africa's great green wall suffers from a major mismatch between ambition and effort. But that's not to say it should be ditched altogether.
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Earl Conteh-Morgan, University of South Florida
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s comments about weapons as part of development for Africa could have the opposite effect if conditions aren’t strict and democratic processes aren't followed.
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Leah Oyake-Ombis, University of Nairobi
High costs, poor performance, a lack of manufacturing capabilities and local perceptions prevent biodegradable bags from taking root in Kenya.
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From our international editions
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John Picton, University of Liverpool
Can philanthropy of the super-rich ever be better than taxation?
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Lisa S. Scott, University of Florida
Psychology researchers bring infants into the lab to learn more about how shared book reading influences brain and behavioral development.
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