Politics

Teddy Afro’s Music: A Fusion of Nationalism, Humanism, and the Cry for Ethiopian Democracy (Published)

This qualitative analysis employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to explore the song lyrics of “Naʾət (ʾəyamämäw qut’ər 2) Naat (Paining No. 2) ” by Teddy Afro, a prominent Ethiopian musician known for blending elements of nationalism, humanism, and political activism in his music. The study focuses on understanding how Teddy’s lyrics reflect themes of nationalism, humanism, and the quest for democracy within the Ethiopian context. Drawing upon CDA, the analysis examines linguistic and discursive strategies employed in the lyrics to convey socio-political messages. The study highlights Teddy’s role as a cultural figure and activist whose music serves as a medium for expressing societal concerns and advocating for change. Through the lens of CDA, the analysis elucidates the ways in which Teddy’s music contributes to ongoing discourses surrounding Ethiopian identity, social justice, and democratic aspirations. Ultimately, this research provides insights into the intersection of music, politics, and culture in Ethiopia, shedding light on the socio-political significance of Teddy’s musical contributions.

Keywords: CDA, Democracy, Humanism, Nationalism, Politics, lyrics, unity

Assessment of the Constraints to Women Education and Its Implications on Their Participation in Politics in North Western Nigeria (Published)

Women constitute a larger percentage of the illiterate group in n Nigeria. This could be attributed to the fact that in most families, parents prefer to send their sons to school, instead of their Daughters whom they feel would eventually get married and thus get incorporated into another family and by implication a larger percentage of the girls remain uneducated and unexposed. Girl-child access to basic education, especially in northern states, has remained low. The importance of women education in enhancing the education of their children is succinctly put in the old adage which states that ’’to educate a man is to educate a person, but to educate a woman is to educate a nation’’ The participation of women in politics may influence equalization of educational opportunities, quotas for female participation in governing bodies, legislative reform to increase focus on issues concerning women and children, financing gender-responsive budgets to equally take into account the needs of men and women,. Therefore there is need to analyses constraints affecting women participation in politics and their consequences in retarding development of women education.This paper therefore is to appraise some constraints to women education and implications to their  political power play in North West Nigeria. In doing this, the paper discusses how women had fared in the traditional societies for educational struggle and how that had helped in the definition of their political status. The paper also attempts a historical overview of the participation of women in the political arrangement in North West Nigeria. It tries to probe into the political future of women in the country to determine whether there are opportunities for improvement or not. The paper finds a great deal of role stereotype against women by tradition and absence of practical steps taken by both political parties and government towards political achievements. It opines that more women should be given opportunities for education for participation in the politics of the country. This can be achieved through laws that are deliberately aimed at removing the barriers against women and genuine practical approaches.

Keywords: Assessment, Constraints, Education, Political Participation, Politics, Women

Religious Affiliations and Political Leadership in Uganda: The Case of Iganga District (Published)

Religion has proved to be one the informal institutions around which politics is built in Uganda. This study examined the influence of religious affiliations on political leadership in Uganda; placing emphasis on Iganga District. The study used a cross sectional research design with both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study used 247 respondents selected using simple random, purposive and snow ball sampling techniques. The study analysed data using Chi-square test of goodness of fit. The study discovered that religious affiliations have a significant bearing on the political leadership of Iganga District. The study recommended that, politicians should not use religion as a stepping stone for political offices by exploiting the simple majority of followers of a certain religious sect over the other. They should instead reach to the masses irrespective of their religious affiliations and once in office, they should use their mandate to serve the whole community equally rather than favouring individuals of their religious faith. The criterion for granting leadership positions should be on basis of merit and not religion.

 

Keywords: Iganga district, Leadership, Politics, Religion., and Uganda

‘Emi Lo Kan’ Concept in Nigerian Politics: A Critical Discourse Defragmentation (Published)

Text and context, mind, and domination are key concepts whenever we consider language and politics. This study examines the ways in which political and ideological undertones were conveyed in political speeches, as well as how texts reproduce and maintain power and unequal power relations. In order to understand how language shapes and maintains power relationships and ideological structures the study employs the principles of critical discourse analysis by Norman Fairclough. Critical Discourse Analysis helps us to see how specific language techniques produce, enact, and legitimise power relations. The study found out that the aspirant used the expression to reflect both good self-ideology and negative self-ideology in order to neutralise the asymmetrical power relationships that exist between his group and the other groups within the APC at the point of liberalising power. It was a declarative. Typically, this resulted in the other aspirants’ power being politically diminished. The aspirant also used discourse structures that have implications for ideology as weapons of persuasion and pleading, positive self-representation of “Emi”, meaning “I”, negotiation and personality projection. The researchers conclude that language of politics has the power to weave visions and “imaginaries” that can alter, obfuscate, and politically interpret realities.

Citation: Agbeleoba S.O., Fafiyebi D., Bamigboye O., Feyisara O., Bamisaye T.  (2023) ‘Emi Lo Kan’ Concept in Nigerian Politics: A Critical Discourse Defragmentation, Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Vol.11, No.4, pp.32-40

Keywords: CDA, Discourse, Language, Nigerian politics, Politics, defragmentation

Electoral Violence in Bangladesh: A Study of Democratic Regimes (Published)

Elections are very common methods of peaceful transfer of power in democracy. Like many other developing countries, Bangladesh also follows a method of peaceful transfer of power by the elections. However, electoral violence in every national and local level election is a serious problem and hindrance to the democratic development in Bangladesh. Thus, this study attempts to explore the nature of electoral violence in national or parliamentary election in Bangladesh on the basis of secondary source of data following a qualitative method. Special attention has been drowned in the democratic regimes, particularly after the reintroduction of parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh from 1991-2018. This study reveals that electoral violence after the every national elections has become as an event in which incumbent leaders and ruling party agents employ or threaten violence against the political opposition or potential voters before, during, or after elections – is common. The findings of the study reveal that different types of violence with different number of death and injury in pre, during and post-election time is a regular phenomenon in Bangladesh.

 

Keywords: Bangladesh, Democracy, Election, Politics, electoral violence

Perceptions, Challenges and Coping Strategies of Women in Political Leadership Positions (Published)

This study examined the experiences of females in political leadership positions in the Sunyani West District. Qualitative approach was adopted with a case study design to explore the experiences of the women leaders. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select 14 participants comprising eight (8) political party executives, four (4) Assembly women and two (2) women who were parliamentary candidates. The data were collected using interview and analysed through thematic procedure. The findings indicated that females in political leadership positions perceive leadership in three different ways as task-oriented, goal-oriented and people-oriented. Whatever way they perceived political leadership; they faced several challenges related to their personal lives, family and community. However, the main challenge facing females in political leadership positions in Sunyani West District is misconceptions about their capabilities as females. Females in political leadership positions cope with their challenges through self-motivation, creation of cordial relationship with male chauvinists and concentration on their potentials. The study recommended that female political leaders should focus on their output and achievements to show their capabilities in contributing meaningfully to society. There is an urgent need for opinion leaders such as chiefs, queen mothers, district chief executives and the public in general to discourage the unfair, unjust and unequal treatment sometimes meted out to women who occupy political leadership positions.

Keywords: Challenges, Coping Strategies, Ghana, Leadership, Political Leadership, Politics, Women

Ethnocentric Tendencies in the Formation of the East African Federation on Uganda (Published)

The study hinged on the investigation of ethnicity and the East African political, social, and economic unity. The study employed a descriptive cross- sectional research design, with qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study used 385 respondents, selected using random and purposive sampling techniques in the study selected areas in Masaka, Katuna, Nimule, Kampala, Malaba and Mutukula. The study discovered that, ethnicity has negatively influenced the formation of the East African political, social and economic unity of Ugandans. The study concluded, that the different and contrasting interpretation of cultures, norms, customs and traditions of the Ugandan people cannot allow the idea of the East African federation to be successful as it is projected in the political, social, and economic spheres on Ugandans. The study recommended for the establishment of a cultural model federation that is widely open politically, socially and economically to all groups of people in the region.

Keywords: East African Federation, Ethnicity, Politics, Socio-Economic, Uganda

POLICE AND THE CHALLENGE OF CONDUCTING CREDIBLE ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA: AN EXAMINATION OF THE 2007 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION (Published)

The electoral process remains the most viable method of transfer of power from one regime to another in a democratic dispensation. Like in some other developing countries undergoing democratic experimentation, ensuring credible and transparent elections has been one of the major problems of Nigeria politics. The problem is more pronounced in civilian-to-civilian transitions than in military-to-civilian transition. In such transition, the electoral processes are rendered vulnerable to abuse through manipulation of the entire system. The political parties, especially those in power seek to manipulate institutional agencies to serve partisan interests. In most cases, the outcomes of the elections neither reflect the true choices of the electorates nor are they accepted. Most often than not, the situation raises integrity questions sometimes, attracting international condemnation that always lead to crisis of legitimacy as witnessed in previous elections of 1964, 1983, 2003 and 2007. In the event of lack of electoral integrity, various organs of the state are called upon to maintain law and order that will legitimize the new government. This is particularly so for the police, which is constitutionally charged with this role. However, the extent to which the police have discharged their election duties and what they have done to prevent or perpetrate electoral fraud remains a vital issue to be examined. Against this background, this study discusses the role of the police vis-a-vis the challenge of conducting credible elections in Nigeria. Exploring secondary data, the study examines the role played by the police in the 2007 presidential elections, and make recommendations on how to manage future elections to prevent electoral fraud. After the investigations carried out in this study, the following recommendations are made, massive education and training for the police, improvement in the welfare and promotion of police officers, a reduction in the volume of money and allowances paid to political office holders and creation of two million jobs to dry up the present pool of unemployed youths, among others.

Keywords: Challenges of Election, Credible Elections, Election, Electoral integrity, Politics

ISLAMIC POLITICAL ORDER AS A MODEL OF POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (Published)

The continues encroachment by the US and its allies to challenge the Islamic form of government as alternative to the modern secular system coming at a time when both the West and Muslim scholars remain divided in their assessment of the Islamic system of democracy. Perhaps, unlike Christianity, Islam does not separate religion from state, and many Muslims argue it is a political Islam not political “Islam that requires explanation”. As such, many Islamist or Islamic political order (democratic parties) existed in almost every democracy with a Muslim majority. As a result, many Islamic groups are also working in different parts of world to adopt non violent resistance of Western political, social, cultural and technological ways of governance particularly so in Egypt, Algeria, Iran, and Turkey advocated and practiced “Westernization”. However, this has made them to become a disorder countries having deviated from the Islamic system of democracy. The pattern of western politics is completely different from the Islamic form of politics, where the mission and purpose are far ahead. While Islamic pattern of politics and other economic vices largely depicted in the Holy Qur’an and Sunna (tradition) of the prophet Muhammad (SAW), on the other hand, the western politics and other socioeconomic devices are purely derived from man-made laws which were designed only to perpetuate the interest of the West.

Keywords: Governance, Islam, Islamic Political Order, Politics, Secularism