Civil Society And Good Governance In Burundi

governments and the public at large. --Book Jacket.

This title was first published in 2001. Investigating the relations between ethnicity and governance in Asia and Africa and going well beyond traditional and orthodox treatments, this volume is not only a stimulating text, but also an invaluable tool for original and innovative research.

Master's Thesis from the year 2004 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Region: Africa, grade: Merit, University of Kent, 55 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: The persistent low state of development in sub-Saharan Africa has become a global challenge. Academics and think-tanks continue to search for solutions to Africa's longstanding problems. Studies have proven that the entire region is essentially confronted with a crisis of social structures and government and the fragmentation of authority is the hallmark of this crisis (Van Hoyweghen & Smis, 2002:575). Over twenty-four million people are infected with AIDS/HIV, growth of per capita income is low and civil wars have killed millions in Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. African governments owe billions of dollars in debt (Polanyi, 2003:563). This irreversible trend brought the good governance discourse in development cooperation between the donors and African counterparts. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the concept of good governance is being implemented in Africa. For clarity purposes, the work is limited to the analysis of the efforts being made by the European Union (EU) and the World Bank in assisting African countries to implement good governance. This choice is based on the fact that the EU and World Bank are the main multilateral aid donors and development partners of the region. It argues that good governance enhances transparency in the use of development aid, helps to reduce poverty and spurs development, and that it is necessary to foster institutional reforms (causative argument). The paper further argues that implementing good governance will improve the use of political power by leaders and help in the consolidation of peace (normative argument). Achieving global governance is a main issue in international politics today. Enforcing good governance is a must if Africa has to be fully integrated into

"Burundi's 2010 election period was marked by repression of civil society, media, and opposition parties. After claiming that communal elections in May were fraudulent, opposition parties boycotted subsequent elections, which resulted in a massive electoral victory for the ruling party. The government responded with a crackdown on liberties that continued into the post-election period. It banned political meetings, outlawed an opposition coalition, and unlawfully acted to convert the main opposition party into a satellite of the ruling party. Authorities arrested several hundred opposition members; some were tortured. They also arrested journalists, harassed civil society organizations, and branded those who spoke out on security and justice issues as 'political opponents.' Since September, a new wave of killings has targeted members of both the ruling party and the opposition. The specter of a de facto one-party state, consisting mainly of officials who perceive dissident voices as enemies, raises concerns about future repression and the narrowing of democratic space in Burundi. The possibility of renewed armed conflict heightens concerns of abuse by the government and armed movements. This report documents the factors leading to the democratic breakdown, and the closing space for political opposition, human rights defenders and journalists. It also examines the international reaction to such abuses, and evaluates the ability of government institutions to protect human rights. Closing Doors? urges the new government to take further steps toward establishing institutions that will promote accountability; commit to reestablishing space for opposition parties to function; and allow journalists and civil society activists to fulfill their monitoring function. It calls on international donors to match their demonstrated support for civil society with an even-handed approach to the ruling party and the political opposition that is rooted in upholding fundamental human rights."--Page 4 of cover.

How do international organizations support local peacebuilding? Do they really understand conflict? Partners in Peace challenges the global perceptions and assumptions of the roles played by civil society in peacebuilding and offers a radically new perspective on how international organizations can support such efforts. Framing the debate using case studies from Africa and Central America, the author examines different meanings of peacebuilding, the practices and politics of interpreting conflict and how planned interventions work out. Comparing original views with contemporary perceptions of non-state actors, Partners in Peace includes many recommendations for NGOs involved in peacebuilding and constructs a new understanding on how these possible solutions relate to politics and practices on the ground. Concise in both theoretical and empirical analysis, this book is an important contribution to our understanding of civil society's role in building sustainable peace.

East Africa and the Horn explores these regional constraints and opportunities, focusing on issues of civil society, the ubiquitous trade in small arms and light weapons, large numbers of refugees, tensions around national identity, and the legacy of U.S. policy.