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- Convenors:
-
Joanna Mormul
(Jagiellonian University)
Kateřina Ženková Rudincová (University of Ostrava)
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- Format:
- Panel
- Streams:
- Politics and International Relations (x) Decoloniality & Knowledge Production (y)
- Location:
- Philosophikum, S84
- Sessions:
- Wednesday 31 May, -
Time zone: Europe/Berlin
Short Abstract:
The panel addresses the socio-political transformations in the African Great Lakes region with the focus on the African perspective, as well as the possibility of sharing experience with other parts of the world.
Long Abstract:
The socio-political transformations in Sub-Saharan African states are most often led by the application of Western concepts in the African context, which are later internalized by African governments, NGOs, and citizens of African states. In the panel we are interested in the interdisciplinary research on socio-political transformations in the African Great Lakes region, during which their actors and trajectories can be identified and understood. It is also interesting how these actors perceive the originally Western concepts related to development and modernity and how they internalize them. How we can define what is an "African agency" in the process of internalization of these concepts and norms? What kind of societies are being created because of interaction between Western norms/concepts and lived African realities? In the African Great Lakes region, we can find the examples of states that seem to have undergone successful socio-political transformation (Rwanda) or have been on the way to achieve it (Kenya, Tanzania), as well as the ones that are still struggling with serious political and social issues (Burundi, the DRC, Uganda). In the panel we would also like to discuss the possibility of sharing experience between the African Great Lakes Region states and other parts of the world that have experienced a successful socio-political transformation (e.g. Central Europe).
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Wednesday 31 May, 2023, -Joanna Mormul (Jagiellonian University) Robert Klosowicz (Jagiellonian University)
Paper short abstract:
The paper is a comparative historical study of the State of Katanga and the Kingdom of Rwenzururu, two former de facto states in the African Great Lakes Region, and their role in the process of the socio-political change in, respectively, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
Paper long abstract:
According to Adrian Florea (2014) Africa has been the continent most prone to de facto separation, in his data set De Facto States in International Politics (1945-2011) draw our attention two de facto states in the African Great Lakes Region: Katanga (1960-1963) and the Kingdom of Rwenzururu (1963-1982) that disappeared in a completely different way (forceful reintegration vs. peaceful reintegration) and albeit both can be considered an emanation of the will for political change (popular or by power elite), the consequences of their political projects for today’s socio-political transformations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, are rather different. The mineral-rich Katanga is so far the only example of the international community efforts towards ending secession of an unrecognized state and trying to restore the state unity by military force. The unity, which is difficult to maintain for the Congolese state, over the years having experience different forms of decentralization. The Kingdom of Rwenzururu, in turn, in 1982 abandoned the goal of secession in exchange for autonomy and in 2008 official recognition by the Ugandan government as a subnational kingdom. Being an example of traditional authority, the Kingdom can act only as a cultural institution. However, 2016 Kasese clashes shed a different light on the future of the Kingdom and the real goals of the current Omusinga of Rwenzururu, Charles Mumbere.
Bar Joanna (JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY)
Paper short abstract:
The aim of the study is to analyse contemporary social developments in Burundi in the face of years of internal conflict and the need for profound reforms in terms of the broader process of democratisation, national reconciliation and civil society building.
Paper long abstract:
Burundi has remained outside the mainstream of researchers' interest for years. The ethnic conflicts of the 1990s were overshadowed by the magnitude of the 1994 genocide tragedy in Rwanda, while subsequent attempts to recover from the crisis went unnoticed due to both the development successes of neighbouring Rwanda and the recurrent moments of crisis in Burundi, which called into question the effectiveness of the reforms carried out. The civil war that broke out in Burundi in October 1993, following the fatal assassination attempt on the democratically elected President Melchior Ndadaye, resulted in the deaths of some 300,000 people and the collapse of the country's economy. A ceasefire and the holding of democratic parliamentary and presidential elections was only realised in July 2005.
The period of President Nkurunziza's leadership (2005-2020) will go down in history as marked by the country's difficult economic situation but also by the persecution of actual or perceived political opponents. For years, Burundian society has been waiting for profound reforms to take place, also in terms of the broader process of democratisation and national reconciliation.
The aim of this paper is to analyse the current social situation in Burundi, together with an attempt to answer questions about contemporary social change in the face of more than 30 years of destabilisation; internal conflict and arduous attempts to reconstruct the state and its society.
Istvan Tarrosy (University of Pecs)
Paper short abstract:
This paper discusses the regional policy developments in the EAC with regard to migration, but in the wider context of the ‘migration-development nexus’, as well as human security. It analyses the Regional Consultative Process (RCP) on Migration mechanism, established in Kigali in February 2022.
Paper long abstract:
This paper discusses the regional policy developments in the East African Community (EAC) with regard to migration, but in the wider context of the ‘migration-development nexus’, as well as in light of the complex issue of human security. It analyses the Regional Consultative Process (RCP) on Migration mechanism that was established in Kigali, in February 2022. The RCP is planned to address migration and migration-related issues in a holistic manner, which may be exemplary not only for this macro region of the African continent, but also in a more global sense.
The research questions cover the following: What are the reasons to launch the RCP? How much and in what ways are the major dimensions of this new process intertwined, i.e. how can the RCP deal with labour market dynamics, security concerns, as well as environment-induced mobilities at the same time? What are the roles of the members states and the EAC as a regional economic community as a whole in reducing irregularities, while fostering regular and legal migration within the region for the development of the entire community in the longer run? In particular, what is the position of landlocked Rwanda amidst all the regionalization aspirations of the EAC?
The paper can shed light on the recent developments of the regional policy framework and the concerted efforts of the member states of one of Africa’s most dynamically evolving regional integrative frameworks, therefore, can broaden the knowledge corpus on African migrations with a regional perspective from within the African context.
Raphael Akeyo (Kisumu County Assembly, Kenya)
Paper short abstract:
Decentralization has gained prominence in Africa. Its success or failures have however been associated with instances of corruption to varied scales. This paper discusses the extent to which decentralization has increased rather than decreased corruption in Africa.
Paper long abstract:
Decentralization has gained prominence in Africa in recent years. In various jurisdictions, its success or failures have however been associated with instances of corruption to varied scales. This paper therefore discusses the extent to which decentralization has increased rather than decreased corruption in Africa. Content analysis of various literature on decentralization and corruption forms the core methodology. The paper takes an objective analysis of the successes and or failures of decentralization in selected African countries and eventually makes a conclusion. This paper finds that despite the many instances of increased corruption levels in many decentralized jurisdictions in Africa (Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Mali et al), the system is still considered favorable and can still be taunted for success in corruption reduction if a number of ingredients are included in its implementation.
Key Words: Decentralization, Centralization, Devolution, Corruption.