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- Description:
- Bad governance is a major contributor to poor service delivery in Africa. In Kenya, the level of accountability in the management of public affairs has consistently declined since independence. This is in spite of various legal instruments and watchdog institutions established to regulate and monitor the ethical conduct of public officials. This paper argues that the pattern of consolidation of power embarked upon by Kenya's post-colonial rulers was a major underlying factor in the deterioration of ethical standards in the public service. The construction of patron-clientilist relations were quite pronounced in this regard. The same goes for the deliberate manipulation of ethnicity. The paper concludes by advocating the adoption of a number of measures in order to enhance accountability in the public service of Kenya.
- Date Issued:
- 2003-06-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- African Journal of Political Science
- Description:
- Since the 1994 elections ushered in the Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress there have been claims that a stable, multi-racial democratic society has finally triumphed in South Africa. This article refutes such thesis; it examines the prospects for consolidating democracy, and argues that the lack of significant progress regarding social (class and race) and economic (ownership) relations under the GNU is likely to precipitate a political crisis. This could produce an authoritarian response and thereby severely compromise the democratic and socio-economic aspirations which inspired the anti-apartheid struggle.
- Date Issued:
- 1997-12-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- African Journal of Political Science
- Description:
- Ethiopia has embarked upon what it claims to be a novel experiment in "ethnic federalism". The ruling Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front has asserted that it is intent on forthrightly addressing the claims of ethnic groups in the country of historic discrimination and inequality, and to build a multi-ethnic democracy. The essay critically assesses this effort, concentrating on the emerging relations between the federal and regional state governments. Particular attentionis given to the strategy of revenue sharing as a mechanism for addressing regional inequities. Where appropriate, comparisons are made with the federal system in Nigeria, Africa's most well-known federal system. The article concludes that, while there may be federal features and institutions normally found in democracies, Ethiopia has not constructed a system of democratic federalism. Moreover, rather than empowering citizens at the grassroots level, Ethiopia tightly controls development and politics through regional state governments, with very little popular decision making in the development process.
- Date Issued:
- 2002-06-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- African Journal of Political Science
- Description:
- Part 1: Michigan Supreme Court Justice Patricia Boyle talks about her childhood, the influence of family on her life, and her college years at the University of Michigan, an institution which she says was woefully lacking in diversity during her time there. She also says that she "fell into" the practice of law, describes law school, and says that she was ill treated by her male classmates. After law school, Boyle says that she had an almost impossible time finding a job in a male dominated field and that the job interview process itself was often sexist. She says that early in her career she was naive about sexism in the legal field, cites the disparity in pay between genders, and says that women are denied equal opportunity and that most women in the field work as secretaries or "helpers". Boyle also recalls the tensions between her career and family life, her eventual divorce, her second marriage and the impact of her career on her children. Part 2: Michigan Supreme Court Justice Patricia Boyle discusses being considered for the position of U.S. Attorney General during the Clinton Administration, other job opportunities, how selections are made for high profile jobs, and the incredible personal scrutiny candidates face. Boyle also says that the Court was remarkably "clean" during her tenure, even in the face of party politics and that she simply tried to "do what was right" at all times. Boyle also critiques the other Chief Justices who served with her, including Justices Riley and Levin and describes how gender, race and ethnicity affected the Court's decisions. Boyle concludes by describing her appointment to the Court by Governor Blanchard. Part 3: Michigan Supreme Court Justice Patricia Boyle describes her relationships with Michigan Governors Milliken, Blanchard and Engler and discusses the differences in their politics. Boyle also discusses several high profile decisions made by the Court during her tenure, such as in the "Baby Jessica" and Dr. Jack Kevorkian cases and the contentious legal issues faced by the Court, including the Duty to Aid or Protect Doctrine, unintended harm, negligence and liability, grandparent visitation rights, Miranda rights, criminal sentences and probation, and the cost of incarceration versus treatment for drug offenses. Boyle also comments on liberal and conservative influences on the Court, the principles under which the Court operates, Court authority in relation to the state legislature, single party domination of the branches of government, and the U.S. Justices she admires.
- Date Created:
- 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- Interviews with Michigan State Supreme Court Justices