The right to health is vital. Therefore, its promotion should be in the best interest of all governments. Yet, not all health provision is the same, even amongst similar countries. Senegal and...Show moreThe right to health is vital. Therefore, its promotion should be in the best interest of all governments. Yet, not all health provision is the same, even amongst similar countries. Senegal and Sierra Leone are two West African countries with low levels of Human Development, and high levels of poverty. Nevertheless, Senegal has, according to the World Health Organisation’s Ranking of Health Systems, the 58th best health system worldwide, while Sierra Leone has the worst, at 191st. By asking the following question: Why did Senegal Perform Better than Sierra Leone in the World Health Organisation’s Latest Health Systems Rankings? This thesis aims to discover the factors leading to two countries with several similarities between them having such a stark difference in terms of their health systems. Through a review of theory and literature, this research explores the long-term effects of direct and indirect colonial rule. The goal here is to discover if the institutions built by the colonial powers affect the way modern-day states operate. The results indicate that indirect rule has led to Sierra Leone’s state fragmentation and institutional inefficiencies, while direct rule established ties between France and Senegal which undermine Senegal’s sovereignty. As a result, this thesis concludes that colonial institutions are a factor in the operations of modern-day governments and could therefore explain the difference in the results of Senegal and Sierra Leone’s positions in the WHO Rankings of Health Systems.Show less
In early 2011, the 20 February Movement took place in Morocco in the wider context of the Arab Spring. The movement in Morocco did not lead to thorough change or governmental over-throw, as it was...Show moreIn early 2011, the 20 February Movement took place in Morocco in the wider context of the Arab Spring. The movement in Morocco did not lead to thorough change or governmental over-throw, as it was the case in other North African countries. Morocco’s political institutions re-mained stable after a quick response of the government and monarchy. This thesis is conducted by relying on institutional theory and the use of qualitative research methods to explore the following research question: Why has the 20 February Movement in Morocco led to the con-tinuation of political institutions and not initiated governmental change? The results show that Morocco’s authoritarian political institutions remained stable and widely unchanged because of the legitimacy of the monarchy and the king as head of state. Even though the constitution was reviewed as a response to the protests that demanded democratisation, the position of the king was not questioned. Historical, religious, social and political factors legitimise the position of the king, which make him a source of stability for the regime and decreases the likelihood of experiencing political conflict and violence.Show less
