Tag Archives: democracy in africa

The charismatic, moderate voice of Islam in Mali

By Laurence Deschamps-Laporte | Published: 6 May 2013

Following her update on the Malian crisis, Laurence Deschamps-Laporte highlights the importance of exploring the more moderate voices of Islam in northern Mali. In this post she focuses in on Ançare Dine and its charismatic leader Cheick Haidara, exploring his take on the crisis in Mali, other Muslim groups and the French intervention. Laurence is an [...]

Posted in Mali, Uncategorized | Also tagged African Democracy, AQIM, Haidara, islam, Mali, Malian crisis | 1 Response

Broadening the lens on Zimbabwe: a response to Simukai Tinhu

By SJ Cooper-Knock | Published: 28 April 2013

In this blog one of our co-editors, Sarah Jane Cooper-Knock, shares her thoughts on a recent article by Simukai Tinhu on the political landscape in Zimbabwe.

Posted in Zimbabwe | Also tagged African Democracy, elections, zimbabwe | 2 Responses

New: The Routledge Handbook of African Politics

By Andrea Scheibler | Published: 25 April 2013

In this blog, Andrea Scheibler tells us about the new Routledge Handbook of African Politics, that she has edited with our Co-editor Dr Nic Cheeseman and Prof David Anderson. Andrea is a DPhil candidate in African History at the University of Oxford, and a member of St Hugh’s College.

Posted in Elections, Parliamentary Systems, Presidential Systems, Uncategorized, War and Peace | Also tagged African Democracy, African politics, politics, politics in africa, The new routledge handbook on African Politics | Leave a comment

The Prospects for Electoral Pacts and Democratic Progress in Zimbabwe

By Pedzisai Ruhanya | Published: 12 April 2013

In this opinion piece, Pedzisai Ruhanya stresses the need for the opposition to unite ahead of this year’s elections in Zimbabwe. Pedzisai is a PhD candidate and the director of the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute Trust.

Posted in Zimbabwe | Also tagged Africa, African Democracy, democracy, Ncube, Pedzisai Ruhanya, tsvangirai, Zimbabwe elections | Leave a comment

Understanding the Malian crisis and its actors

By Laurence Deschamps-Laporte | Published: 7 April 2013

As conflict Mali continues, Laurence Deschamps-Laporte puts together a timeline of major developments, an overview to the key actors involved, and a note on the current situation. Laurence is an MPhil candidate at Oxford Department of International Development.

Posted in Mali, Uncategorized | Also tagged African Democracy, Ansar Dine, AQIM, conflict, Mali, MNLA, MUJAO, Tuareg | Leave a comment

Dr Blessings Chinsinga on presidents, plots, and political vision in Malawi.

By Alexandra Lowe and SJ Cooper-Knock | Published: 4 April 2013

The last year has been an eventful one in Malawi. In this interview, Dr Blessings Chinsinga gives us his views on the political and economic landscape of the country, critiquing Joyce Banda’s lack of vision in leadership and exploring her prospects at the polls in 2014. Since Joyce Banda became President on 7th April 2012 [...]

Posted in In Their Own Words, Malawi | Also tagged African Democracy, Blessings Chinsinga, Joyce Banda, Malawi | Leave a comment

Powering democracy and growth? Exploring the links between electrification, mobile use, growth and democracy.

By Ben Armstrong | Published: 1 April 2013

In this fascinating article, Ben Armstrong explores the evidence around mobile usage and electrification to ask what implications developments in these two areas can have on a country’s democracy and GDP. Ben Armstrong is CEO at WellDone, an organization using mobile technology to collect and communicate critical infrastructure data.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged African Democracy, democracy, elections, electricity, mobiles, power, voting | 2 Responses

Zimbabwe’s Draft Constitution: history is made but what does the ‘yes’ vote mean?

By Pedzisai Ruhanya | Published: 21 March 2013

Following their insightful piece on the draft constitution, Zimbabwe Democracy Institute give us their opinion on the referendum in Zimbabwe in support of the draft constitution, and what this means for the upcoming national elections.

Posted in Uncategorized, Zimbabwe | Also tagged Africa, democracy, Democracy in Zimbabwe, Elections in Zimbabwe, Referendum in Zimbabwe, zimbabwe | 2 Responses

What President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory means for Kenya in the next five years

By Dominic Burbidge | Published: 9 March 2013

The media, corruption and democracy in Africa

Following Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory, Dominic Burbidge gives us his opinions on what is next for Kenya in the next five years. Dominic is a DPhil candidate at the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford. You can read his personal blog here.

Posted in Kenya | Also tagged African Democracy, democracy, democracy in kenya, elections, uhuru kenyatta | Leave a comment

Debating for peace: can Kenya’s TV debate lessen the chances of conflict at the polls?

By Tim Wigmore | Published: 26 February 2013

In this opinion piece, Tim Wigmore argues that the TV debate in Kenya could have increased the important of programmatic politics in the forthcoming election, and decreased the likelihood of violence at the polls, or after.