Faculty of Humanities
School of Social Sciences
Department of Political Sciences
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
The chapter Civil Society in Africa co-authored with Prof Pierre Hugo, formed part of the book State of Africa, 2003-2004 as published by the Africa Institute of South Africa. It seeks to find a workable understanding of civil society, recognising the plurality of definitions. It focuses on understanding current developments in Africa's civil society organisations. It then seeks to answer 'whose civil society?' looking at the variety of actors, from donors to states, that attempt to determine the role and mandate of civil society. Finally the relationship between civil society, NEPAD and the African Union is assessed. The findings of the research conclude that contemporary African civil society is a highly contested terrain, no longer having the consensus that applied during the earlier drive towards multi-party democracy in the 1980s. The African state continues to hold a strong political presence in the lives of its citizens, highlighting the need to sustain a viable, representative civil society to counterweight the dominant state. However, it is becoming apparent that the space for civil society to hold governments and supranational institutions accountable is being severely constrained. The plurality of roles of civil society is contended as African states and supranational institutions like the African Union limit it to the role of partner. In sum, the autonomy and legitimacy of Africa's civil society is under threat. One of the conditions for the future success of the African Renaissance is the need for the state and the African Union to recognise the importance for civil society to enjoy adequate operational space.
Contact person: Mrs N de Jager.
During the course of 2004 Hussein Solomon was exceptionally interested in the institutionalization of conflict management in Africa and its impact on conflict resolution initiatives across the continent. The book Towards a Common Defence and Security Policy for Southern Africa was published by the Africa Institute of South Africa. It was found that, despite progress in political support for a common defence and security policy, much still needs to occur within Southern Africa's military to develop common command and control, common military doctrine, common training and the like. It was also felt that differering political values were also impacting on the process of military integration and that this issue needs to be resolved if further progress at the military level was to take place.
Contact person: Prof H Solomon.
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