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Africa’s Quest for Industrialization and Development: Rethinking Rents and Rent-Seeking. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31920/2516-5305/2018/v15n4a1
Adeoye O. Akinola9
Noted for its vast resources, Africa recorded appreciable economic growth in the past decade; but, recently, the continent has regressed economically. The lack of industrialization is one of the major factors responsible for Africa’s economic malaise; hence, the need for sustainable industrial growth. This paper identifies rents and rent-seeking as an important corollary for African industrialization. Through personal communications, the article critically examines the role of rents and rent-seeking in Africa’s industrialization, and explores rent-seeking’s utility in enhancing its industrial project. Western literature focuses on how rent-seeking impedes governance and socio-economic development in Africa; however, rents prevail in both developed and developing economies, although with different degrees of pervasiveness. The article highlights the contribution of rent-seeking to the attainment of sporadic industrialization and economic development in Asia. Indeed, rents and rent-seeking has contributed to Africa’s industrial growth. This revelation and the Asian experience present the motivation for rethinking Africa’s ‘loyalty’ to liberal ideologies and adopt the required policies to spur industrial growth and development in the continent.
The prevalence of conflict in Africa during electioneering processes has spawned numerous literatures with divergence views on the internalization of democratic norm by Africans. The Burundian conflict of 2015 was one in the series of conflicts which question the democratic credentials of African states in recent times due to similar outburst in Zimbabwe (2000), Kenya (2007) and Cote d’Ivoirre (2011). This study sought to unveil latent factors responsible for the violent outburst in Burundi in 2015. It is grounded on the Group Theory and adopts Case Study Research Design. Data were generated from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were generated from Open-end interview, using purposive sampling method, while secondary data involve the review of extant literature. Data were presented qualitatively and analyzed with Content Analysis techniques. The study highlights the historical and socio-economic factors which contributed to both the outburst and sustenance of the conflict. It argues that mutual fear and suspicion rooted in ancient hatred between the Hutus and Tutsis, the fear of abandonment of Arusha 2000 Accord, and the nature of the Burundian political economy were pivotal to the conflict. The study concludes that violent outburst would continue as long as the root causes of the conflict are not addressed. Given the multidimensional sources of the conflict, this paper recommends genuine integration policies and practices capable of deconstructing the ethnic myth created by the colonialists. More so, two term presidency through universal adult suffrage and other provisions of Arusha Accord should be upheld.
The migration of Malawians to South Africa for wage employment dates back to the late nineteenth century following the establishment of diamond and gold mines in Kimberley and the Witwatersrand. Also the genesis of this migration is associated with working in the mines, with time some Malawian labour migrants sought employment in various other sectors. This paper advances the view that this labour migration may be divided into two periods: the old migration period (1880s-1980s) and the new migration period (1980s onwards). During the old period labour migration from Malawi was either formal or informal (selufu), whereas during the new period it was exclusively informal. The paper focuses on the increase in informal migration (selufu) during the new period, particularly in the 1990s. It argues that although selufu picked up following the demise of mine migrancy in the 1980s, this selufu escalated mainly as a result of micro-level and macro-level factors in the 1990s. The findings in this paper are based on data that was collected using archival, oral and secondary sources. Oral interviews were conducted with labour migrants in Mzimba and Nkhata-Bay districts in northern Malawi, but also in Johannesburg, South Africa. The paper also shows that labour migration during the new period is influenced by the functional theories which posit that labour migrants emigrate as a result of rational decisions which are made at household or family level.
This study examined the level of objectivity demonstrated by Nigerian newspapers in their coverage of elections with specific reference to the Nigeria’s 2015 presidential election. Textual analysis was used to examine news stories about electioneering activities of the two leading political parties—the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC)—as reported by The Nation, Nigerian Tribune, The Punch and Vanguard newspapers, which were selected purposively based on their national reach and ownership. The newspapers foregrounded some news stories about the political parties and their presidential candidates while they buried others in manners that reflected biases influenced by ownership and political alignments of the newspapers. This trend has implications for Nigeria’s democracy as the frames adopted by the news media to report electioneering activities may determine the voting decisions of the electorate and the final outcome of elections. Therefore, Nigerian news media should be fair and objective while reporting sensitive issues such as elections.
This paper seeks to locate the African Union’s potential to manage political challenges while precluding peace and security failure. The study seeks to cause the AU leadership to introspect in preparation for a better Africa. Informed by the constructivist research philosophy, a content analysis was done to review selected cases premised on the elite theory. The study found that while the African Union has done well in other areas, it is still perceived as a club of African Heads of States and government with some not legitimately elected oligarchs. While it shares a relatively similar name and structures with the European Union, the African Union’s historical background makes it completely different. The study recommends that, although the institution is loaded with the potential to save Africa from its political and economic conundrum, there is an absolute need for inclusive triangular engagement involving political leadership, civil society and citizens.
Cost management is a strong pillar of an organisation’s success. In an endeavour to manage costs, most organisations implement various cost containment measures. This research study examines the impact of cost cutting measures to staff performance (achievement of targets and quality) and staff morale. This study examined whether cost cutting measures implemented by South African government have a negative or positive effect on staff members’ job satisfaction or commitment to work; whether this affects employee morale and service delivery by KwaZulu-Natal Treasury department’s staff members. A quantitative research study was conducted through questionnaires. The study found that cost cutting measures reduce service quality provided by the department. The implementation of cost cutting measures influences staff morale negatively in the department which in turn affects staff performance. The study recommends the implementation of a model which will incorporate cost cutting incentives for both senior management and junior staff for significant cost reduction outcomes. Ongoing monitoring of cost cutting outcomes was also recommended.
The foreign policy option of reciprocity initially received condemnation by some students of Nigeria’s foreign policy, partly because they did not understand the rationale behind the concept; and probably because they could not realise that it was the basis of contemporary international politics and economic relations through retorsion or retaliation. By extension, little did they realise that it was the basis of Nigeria’s international relations from 1960 as it evident in the French atomic test in the Sahara, Africa as the centre of the country’s foreign policy, the 1979 nationalisation of British assets and counter-trade strategy embarked on by different governments in Nigeria. Its official introduction, through Bolaji Akinyemi’s Doctrine, laid a foundation for future international relations. It was officially acknowledged during Yar’Adua/Jonathan administrations as a foreign policy of consequences, and subsequently received its acid test in relations with South Africa between 2012 and 2014. Pursuing this policy to a logical conclusion, hopefully, will enhance the prestige of the country and its citizens globally. It is equally envisaged to be a source of economic development in Nigeria.
The birth of the African Renaissance was articulated by Cheikh Anta Diop who believed that the challenges of the African continent shall overcome through the confrontation of cultural, scientific and economic renewal. Former president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki populated it with an intention of advocating for self-determination, unity, identity, development, and transformation of political and economy of the continent. The envisioned statement was to see Africa as a unitary continent that could fight imperialism and capitalism which were seen as enemies of development from an Africanism perspective. The dream was however not realized due to the influence exerted by the western on other states in Africa and that affected development in Africa. From this premise, the study will start by outlining the African Renaissance quest for unity, followed by how the dream of Mbeki was thwarted away by the suspicion and doubt among the African states and how African Union was seen as an entity to promote Africanism and African Renaissance. From that, the study will suggest a plan that could be implemented to resuscitate the African Renaissance from a development perspective.
The Nigerian security management experiences since the British colonial masters introduced modern police and army till date reveals that the official security agencies have done a lot in promoting a safe, secure and peaceful Nigerian State. However, the harsh reality of everyday life is that the best from such agencies is a far cry from the common man’s hope for the security of his life and property. The situation has been aggravated by the rise of different forms of terrorism, ethno-based killings and conflicts in the country today. This article is a critical examination of the history of crime and security management strategies in Nigeria. Using oral history, the paper discusses the role of deities, traditional neighbourhood watch groups (traditional community police), age grades and cults in ensuring sustainable societal security. The paper revealed that banishment of criminals is rarely practised today and traditional vigilante and neighbourhood watch groups have been reorganised and strengthened in such a way they can become a formidable force in confronting the challenges of human security management in Nigeria.
The activities of Boko Haram terror sect have continued to receive widespread attention and reactions from different parts of the globe. Unfortunately, there is relatively minimal focus on the effect of their activities on social development in North-eastern Nigeria. This study, which used quantitative methodology, is hinged on the anarchist theory of mass destruction. It traces the origin of the sect and accounts for how the sect, over the years, ran down schools at all levels in North-eastern Nigeria, especially in Borno and Yobe States leading to deaths of teachers and learners as well as the destruction of school building. The study shows how Boko Haram driven insecurity and denial as well as reduction of access to qualitative education ultimately cripples the rise of sustainable social development in Northeastern Nigeria. It went further to reveal that the Borno State Government has to pay parents and guardians, as welfare stimulus that will encourage them to send their pupils to school, while ensuring that there is sustainable school meal program, which would motivate learners to concentrate when they are in school. The study recommends increased peace education by agents of socialization, civil-military relations as well as security transformation in the fight against Boko Haram.
This study looks at the implication on the discourses of Africanization on African cutting-edge education system in the institute of higher learning, with regards to teaching and learning, has formed some proportion of the greater discourse on the rebuilding of African institutions apparently in most recent time. Africanization as it is often termed as a rehabilitated focus on Africa and it entails recouping what has been unprotected from the continent. Pragmatic to institute of higher learning, it can be regarded as a call to adjust curricula and syllabuses to ensure that learning system in teaching and learning are adapted to African realities and conditions. This study reviews the literature in the circle on the Africanization of higher education system underlining the strengths and weaknesses in the discourse; the paper also makes recommendation for endogenisation as an alternative to indigenisation knowledge system. The dynamics that support and restrain the internationalisation and Africanization, the implication for the learning system of Africanization for internationalization. It find innovative approaches that account for its specific context. A documented analysis was adopted on this study.
The study was qualitative in nature. The aim was to explore challenges faced by young people living with alcoholic parents at Mamokgadi village. The research design is exploratory design. The study was conducted in November 2016 at Mamokgadi village in Tzaneen town, within Greater Letaba Municipality, Mopani District in Limpopo Province. The population comprised of young people living with alcoholic parents. Non-probability sampling was used as a sampling procedure and purposive sampling was used as a sub-type of non-probability sampling to sample young people living with alcoholic parents. Face-to-face interview was used to collect data for the study. Unstructured interview was used as an instrument to collect data from participants which was administered face-to-face. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that, most of the participants go through difficulties as a result of staying with alcoholic parents. The study findings also indicated that, parents are not even aware of the impact of their behaviour on their children. The study also revealed that, the majority of participants come across many challenges and feel isolated and helpless because they lack educational support, financial means, attention and love from their parents and peer pressure. Poverty is both a contributor and a consequence of children of alcoholics. The findings also indicated that, academically the performance of the majority of participants declined because of extra responsibility in the household since the parents spend most of the time out there drinking.
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