The article describes some of the main political events which took place in Togo in mid to late 1991, at a time when the power of President Gnassingbé Eyadéma was facing more serious opposition... Show moreThe article describes some of the main political events which took place in Togo in mid to late 1991, at a time when the power of President Gnassingbé Eyadéma was facing more serious opposition than at any time since his assumption of the presidency twenty-four years earlier, and examines how these events were represented in popular discussion in Lomé. The main forum of debate was the National Conference inaugurated in Lomé in July 1991. The work of the conference was both supplemented and encouraged by the growth of the free press. Another source of information was the form of oral communication known in French as 'radio trottoir'. By analysing some aspects of the power struggle in that period, and popular perceptions of them, the article aims to shed light on the cultural mechanisms by which Eyadéma sustained himself in power and through which his power could be contested. It argues that 'radio trottoir' is a crucial element in the interplay of forces between State and civil society in Togo. Bibliog., note, sum. in English and French Show less
Text in Italian. English sum.: This study examines a number of cases in which the people of Ziguinchor, in the Casamance region of Senegal, have been in dispute with the public authorities over... Show moreText in Italian. English sum.: This study examines a number of cases in which the people of Ziguinchor, in the Casamance region of Senegal, have been in dispute with the public authorities over the question of access to land in urban areas. These conflicts, however, should not obscure the fact that the citizens of Ziguinchor and the representatives of the Senegalese State generally manage to reach a consensus on questions of urban land use. The study identifies the reasons why the citizens of Ziguinchor, in spite of the various problems which they have with the authorities, ultimately accept State policies and regulations. Legal analysis is supplemented with social and economic data from Soucoupapaye, a periurban neighbourhood in Ziguinchor, in order to demonstrate that the effective application of State land law in an urban community is subject to political and socioeconomic constraints. Show less
Over the past few years (1985-1991), the Suri of the far southwest of Ethiopia have lived through a deep ecological and social crisis without substantial external aid from either the Ethiopian... Show moreOver the past few years (1985-1991), the Suri of the far southwest of Ethiopia have lived through a deep ecological and social crisis without substantial external aid from either the Ethiopian government or international aid agencies. They have experienced drought, cattle disease and an increasing level of violent conflict with their southern neighbours, the Nyangatom, leading to severe disruption of their traditional agropastoral subsistence system and settlement pattern. Through migration, the exploitation of gold resources and investment in automatic weapons, however, they have virtually managed a full recovery of their economy and society Show less
This report gives an overview of the literature on recent democratization processes in sub-Saharan Africa (1989-1992). The authors first deal with the basic features of African politics that can... Show moreThis report gives an overview of the literature on recent democratization processes in sub-Saharan Africa (1989-1992). The authors first deal with the basic features of African politics that can serve as a framework within which present-day democratization developments can be comprehended. Then they describe the fundamental debates on democracy in Africa which took place in the academic community in the period 1960-1989. These debates, whose origins lie in the independence movements, focused on the failure of the Westminster/Élysée models, with many social scientists criticizing the multiparty system, thereby in fact legitimizing the single-party State and, ultimately, a no-party State. From the 1970s, social scientists started to show concern about the dominance of the African State, and a few argued in defence of democracy. Following the 'democratization wave' which started in 1989, the democracy debate is now flourishing. The fundamental question of whether democracy is a purely Western concept, and differing definitions of what constitutes democracy, have led to discussions about the State and civil society, the function of the multiparty system in the democratization process, good governance, the relation between democracy and jurisprudence, and between democracy and development. An assessment of the national and international events leading to the recent political crisis and the call for democracy suggests some favourable developments, as well as obstacles to further democratization Show less
