This paper researches ethnic politics in Uganda and its relevance to Northern Uganda's transition from humanitarianism to development. Following the end of the LRA conflict, the Ugandan government...Show moreThis paper researches ethnic politics in Uganda and its relevance to Northern Uganda's transition from humanitarianism to development. Following the end of the LRA conflict, the Ugandan government sought to transition Northern Uganda towards development through donor funded initiatives. However, ethnicity appears to be a factor not considered in this process. Consequently, this paper explores an interpretative link between Uganda’s history of ethnic politics and the humanitarian-development transition. The methodology of the study has emphasized historical research to answer its hypothesis. Secondary and qualitative data in the form of books and reports were used to provide the necessary information and data. The paper establishes that ethnic politics has played an active role in Uganda's history since colonialism. Data indicates that President Yoweri Museveni not only came to power in this context but also carried out violence against the Acholi people in a manner that played into deep-seated animosity between northern and southern Ugandans. The core finding of the paper is that the government Peace and Recovery Development Program II contains four key aspects that can be interpreted as rooted in Uganda's ethnic politics of preceding years. Despite this, Uganda's history of ethnic politics is not explicitly addressed by the government in the initiative. The conclusions of the paper are straightforward. An interpretative link can be made between Uganda's history of ethnic politics and Northern Uganda's humanitarian-development transition. And this link is best represented by the experience of the Acholi people under President Museveni. Further research should reinforce this link using primary data.Show less
This thesis set out to answer the research question “In what ways has the phenomenon of Black Tax intersected with social justice in post-apartheid South Africa and how does this dynamic inform the...Show moreThis thesis set out to answer the research question “In what ways has the phenomenon of Black Tax intersected with social justice in post-apartheid South Africa and how does this dynamic inform the country’s contemporary development?” The resulting hypothesis posits that Black Tax in the form of remittances, combined with effective government policies, can facilitate development. Black Tax refers to the financial and material support that higher-earning black individuals provide to their (extended) family members. Although the chosen case study for this research is South Africa, the system carries global significance as diasporas are participating in similar patterns worldwide. The research method utilized is exploratory qualitative data, pursuing a process tracing approach, including academic literature, an informational interview, personal narratives, and policy reports. The resulting analytical framework examines the influence of different historical underpinnings on various development outcomes, as seen through a social justice lens. By applying this analytical framework to four causal processes it became clear that the hypothesis is partially true. While some aspects of Black Tax aid in driving development outcomes, others impede effective development efforts. The main conclusion drawn from this research argues that Black Tax needs to be seen as a two-edged sword since it can both constitute a poverty trap for the participants as well as offer a path toward development. Consequently, further research needs to be conducted to investigate the structural barriers that hinder the effectiveness of Black Tax and social justice efforts in promoting sustainable development.Show less
This study investigates the role of Dutch and African governmental commitments towards African youth agency within climate justice discussions, as observed through the Africa Strategy of the...Show moreThis study investigates the role of Dutch and African governmental commitments towards African youth agency within climate justice discussions, as observed through the Africa Strategy of the Netherlands 2023-2032’s discourse on this matter. Departing from the “burden or duty” paradox the African youth face in light of the climate crisis, this study critically analyses how the Dutch Africa Strategy portrays political responsibilities for the engagement of African youth in climate-related policy dialogues. Employing a “grounded theory” approach, concepts are borrowed from literature to propose a theoretical framework on the concept of “responsibility”, and its denotation as “political” is comprehensively outlined in a stakeholder analysis, together prompting an analytical framework. Similarly, the significance of youth-led movements is highlighted across two cases of climate activism in Africa, holding the voices of various young African activist as key to structuring the arguments presented. The results of the deductive assessment of the Dutch policy show a complex differentiation of responsibilities between the Dutch government, and those in Africa, highlighting the necessity of cooperation, capacity-building, and inclusive governance to accomplish climate justice. The provided discourse analysis is thus englobed in promoting a more equitable and participatory approach to climate resilience in Africa, adding to the broader discourse on climate justice.Show less
The Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), also known as the Biafra War, marks a pivotal mark in African post-colonial history. The conflict between the Federal Government of Nigeria, ruled by Northern...Show moreThe Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), also known as the Biafra War, marks a pivotal mark in African post-colonial history. The conflict between the Federal Government of Nigeria, ruled by Northern tribes, and the Biafra region in the southeast, inhabited by the Igbo tribe, resulted in 1 to 3 million deaths (Heerten et al. 2014, 169). In this research, the role of the former colonial power, namely Britain, is analysed in the context of the Nigerian Civil War. This for Britain played a disputable role in shaping the conflict, not only the British government but British NGOs as well. Although previous studies have demonstrated the British government’s questionable stance, British humanitarian organisations were often overlooked in this discussion. This research does otherwise. It demonstrates, by analysing and connecting the actions of both the British government and the British NGOs, how post-colonial humanitarianism intertwines with the neocolonial narrative. This thesis connects the concepts of neocolonialism, humanitarianism, and neo-humanitarianism concerning British actions during the Nigerian Civil War. By stating that the continuation of neocolonialism is taking place through humanitarian assistance, and by introducing a relatively new concept of neo-humanitarianism to substantiate the claim, this thesis offers a new perspective to the studies previously done on the Nigerian Civil War. Although this research has a limited word count and wider external factors have influenced the dynamics of the conflict and its humanitarian response, it has shown significance in shedding a unique angle on the legacies of colonialism in post-colonial conflicts in Africa.Show less
This thesis aims to answer the following research question; “How does the Nairobi local government aim to improve the living conditions of the Nairobian informal settlements, especially for...Show moreThis thesis aims to answer the following research question; “How does the Nairobi local government aim to improve the living conditions of the Nairobian informal settlements, especially for marginalised social groups, and what should the purpose of the Nairobi local government be?”. Firstly, this thesis examines the effects of urbanisation on living conditions in informal settlements in and around the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Secondly, this thesis aims to identify and elaborate on the demographic groups that can be seen as marginalised and vulnerable within the context of informal settlements in and around Nairobi. Thirdly, this thesis analyses existing legislation surrounding urban participation and the involvement of members of marginalised groups in government-based projects that rely on participation legislation. The research for this thesis was conducted through a close examination of academic articles and through an analysis of the Kenyan Constitution and other forms of legislation that concern urban participation. This thesis concludes that for most inhabitants of informal settlements in and around Nairobi access to public service is limited, especially for members of the marginalised demographic groups which further worsens their socioeconomic status and opportunities. Furthermore, this thesis concludes that the analysed Mukuru Special Planning Area project of Nairobi City County provides a framework for the urban participation of marginalised communities in the Mukuru informal settlements. Given the Kenyan government's investment in the technology sector and its potential social and socio-economic impact, it is all the more important that marginalised groups are able to express their experiences and opinions through public participation frameworks, since this group is the most vulnerable to the possible exacerbation of socio-economic gaps between different socioeconomic groups and city districts.Show less
As climate change continues to threaten cultural heritage in Africa, creating conservation strategies for their protection is of urgent need. Given the history of colonialism and dispossession of...Show moreAs climate change continues to threaten cultural heritage in Africa, creating conservation strategies for their protection is of urgent need. Given the history of colonialism and dispossession of cultural heritage in Africa, understanding the power dynamics between international actors within cultural heritage protection, and local communities is relevant. Therefore the research attempts to analyse how conservation efforts, particularly of climate-threatened heritage, can reinforce or challenge unequal power dynamics between the local community members and external actors. This thesis examines UNESCO’s Earthen Architecture protection Program (WHEAP), and its conservation efforts in Mali’s world heritage sites of Timbuktu and Djenné. The methodology followed the qualitative analysis of the project initiatives’ documentation. The analysis followed the theoretical framework which evaluated the followig factors: Funding & resources, Conservation Practices and Strategies, Community Engagement, Knowledge systems, Economic and Social Impact. The study contextualizes the sites by identifying the main threats from climate change and gives an account of past protection projects. The findings reveal mixed results but show that the program showcased a good level of inclusion of the communities and their traditional knowledge. At a first glance, the thesis underscores the need to protect African cultural heritage, especially given its higher vulnerability from climate change, but does so while emphasizing equitable and just relationships between local custodians of a particular heritage and external actors. Furthermore the research helps identify good practices which can inform future multilateral climate-centered heritage protection projects while ensure more just and community based practices.Show less
This thesis will provide an analysis about the socio-economic development in Tanzania and its effectiveness since Tanzania's independence. The research is multidisciplinary by looking at history,...Show moreThis thesis will provide an analysis about the socio-economic development in Tanzania and its effectiveness since Tanzania's independence. The research is multidisciplinary by looking at history, economics, politics, and social aspects to analyse the way Tanzania is developing. The research found that especially social development projects are the main driver of development in Tanzania, whereas economic investments are often less to not effective for development.Show less
This thesis examines the unintended consequences of land reform policies in post-Apartheid South Africa, focusing on how they have revived colonial perceptions of land use, and reintroduced the...Show moreThis thesis examines the unintended consequences of land reform policies in post-Apartheid South Africa, focusing on how they have revived colonial perceptions of land use, and reintroduced the historical role of chiefs, highlighting the adverse effect on women and rural livelihoods. The study delves into the historical context of land ownership, the formulation and implementation of land reform programs, and the challenges faced in achieving equitable land distribution. The thesis explores the historical evolution of land ownership, the emergence of land reform legislation, and the implementation of land redistribution policies. It reveals that post-apartheid land reform policies have inadvertently revived colonial perceptions of land use, reintroduced the historical role of chiefs, and resulted in constitutional discrepancies. The dominance of colonial agricultural structures within the land reform program has hindered its objectives and posed significant challenges. The resurgence of chiefs has also emerged as a substantial obstacle, particularly for women, in enhancing rural livelihoods. These consequences have contributed to adverse effects on women and rural communities, perpetuating inequalities and marginalizing vulnerable groups.Show less
This thesis is concerned with economic development in Gabon and how it relates to the large oil industry in Gabon. The thesis will discuss how oil effected politics in Gabon and discuss why the...Show moreThis thesis is concerned with economic development in Gabon and how it relates to the large oil industry in Gabon. The thesis will discuss how oil effected politics in Gabon and discuss why the presence of large oil reserves that resulted in high revenues did not result in broad economic development. Through a historical analysis this thesis will explore how current economic conditions were shaped by politics, governmental policy, and Gabon's history of colonialism. The thesis concludes that the unique relations with France, bad public policy and a volatile commodities market resulted in limited economic growth.Show less
The thesis analyzes the political involvement of notable Nigerian Pentecostal Pastors during the 2015 Nigerian elections by focusing on the output of their social media pages. It highlights how...Show moreThe thesis analyzes the political involvement of notable Nigerian Pentecostal Pastors during the 2015 Nigerian elections by focusing on the output of their social media pages. It highlights how pastors appeared hesitant to make political statements online, despite their significant involvement in-person. This was likely related to the risk of a viral backlash to any political posts online.Show less
