 |
|
|
SUBSCRIBE
|
|
Your email address:
|
|
|
Trust in state institutions: Opinion poll data from five African countries
26 February 2008
Efforts to promote social accountability, it could be argued, stand a better chance of success in countries where citizens have a generally positive view about state institutions. Over the last year, Gallup Consulting has published the results of opinion polls in various African states which probe this very point. Readers might be interested in the press releases covering attitudes in Ethiopia, Liberia, Ghana, Mozambique and Botswana. Readers might then wish to read Social Accountability in the Public Sector for a more extensive discussion of the topic.
-
Africans' confidence in institutions -- Which country stands out?
In 2006, the Gallup World Poll asked sub-Saharan Africans in 19 countries about their confidence in eight social and political institutions. Overall across the continent, they were most likely to say they were confident in the religious organizations (76%) in their countries, followed by the military (61%), and financial institutions (55%).
Read more
-
Few Ethiopians confident in their institutions
In the Horn of Africa, democracy is rather scarce. But in 2005, Ethiopian voters went to the polls in the country's first multiparty parliamentary elections to pave the way for establishing democratic values. The opposition and the ruling party, however, claimed victory, thrusting the nation into political crisis and violence. After opposition leaders were convicted and sentenced to life in prison for "outrage against the constitution and incitement of armed rebellion" (although the government pardoned them last summer), Ethiopians' hope for a peaceful political transition was shattered. In 2006, Human Rights Watch reported that the government used "excessive force" to repress any political dissent over the election outcome and jailed Ethiopians arbitrarily. Further, before Gallup started polling in the country, the government launched a military operation in the Ogaden, Ethiopia's Somali region, to eliminate a separatist movement called the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). In the process, many Ethiopian civilians were killed. It is against this challenging backdrop that Gallup gauged Ethiopians' confidence in their country's institutions.
Read more
-
Liberians give high marks to their Government
President George W. Bush visits Liberia Thursday, where a Gallup Poll reveals that the percentages of Liberians who express confidence in the national government (74%) and the honesty of elections (68%) are much higher than the regional medians for sub-Saharan Africa.
Read more
-
Ghanaians give high marks to their National institutions
Ghana is celebrating 50 years of independence. The nation, formerly known as the Gold Coast, was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to break free from colonial rule. Military coups, social unrest, and economic decline beset the country for many years following independence. But, in 1992, Ghana abandoned military rule and lifted the ban on political parties, paving the way for genuine democracy and governance.
Read more
-
Mozambicans confident in their institutions
Earlier this week, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation awarded its inaugural Prize for Achievement in African Leadership to Joaquim Chissano, former president of Mozambique. The prize, which is worth $5 million and an additional $200,000 per year for life, was established to inspire African leaders to pursue a path of good governance, stable democracy, and sustainable development for their countries.
Read more
-
Stability, good governance boost confidence in Botswana
As a landlocked, semi-arid country located in Southern Africa, Botswana is an unlikely economic powerhouse. Since 1966, when the country became independent, real GDP growth has averaged 7% per year. Diamond wealth, political stability, and sound macro-economic policies have provided the foundations for such a success story. A 2006 Gallup poll found that, compared with many African nations, Botswana stands out with regard to the level of confidence respondents have toward several of their country's social and political institutions. Botswana's military, elections, national government, and judicial system all elicit the confidence of at least 80% of the population.
Read more
-
Africa’s economic blocs hopeful for a better future
The dream of a United States of Africa, as envisioned by the continent's leaders at independence, has yet to be realized. But in the blueprints for African unity, economic cooperation among the continent's diverse regions has emerged as a key element to foster development and economic growth and ultimately, improve the lives of Africa's more than 900 million people. Many of the building "blocs" that will serve as the pillars of economic integration are already in place. Known as Regional Economic Communities (RECs), these trade blocs serve to strengthen economic, political, and social cooperation among member states. The goal of policy coordination and trade ties among the RECs is to create a continent-wide economic union by 2027.
Read more
The recent Afrobarometer report A vicious circle of corruption and mistrust in institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa: A micro-level analysis can also be consulted for more detailed, analytical discussion.
For new data on generally declining trust in public institutions in South Africa, readers can consult the article "Between trust and scepticism" by Ben Roberts. Roberts is a researcher at the Human Sciences Research Council.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| INFORM US |
| Tell us about events relating to social accountability in the region |
|
|
|
|
Newsfeeds
