Misrecognition in the making of a state: Ghana’s international relations under Kwame Nkrumah

This paper draws on a Kleinian psychoanalytic reading of Hegel’s theory of the struggle for recognition to explore the role of international misrecognition in the creation of state subjectivity. It focuses on Ghana’s early years, when international relations were powerfully conceptualised and used by Kwame Nkrumah in his bid to bring coherence to a fragile infant state. Nkrumah attempted to create separation and independence from the West on the one hand, and intimacy with a unified Africa on the other. By creating juxtapositions between Ghana and these idealised international others, he was able to create a fantasy of a coherent state, built on a fundamental misrecognition of the wider world. As the fantasy bumped up against the realities of Ghana’s failing economy, fractured social structures and complex international relationships, it foundered, causing alienation and despair. I argue that the failure of this early fantasy was the start of Ghana’s quest to begin processes of individuation and subjectivity, and that its undoing was an inevitable part of the early stages of misrecognition, laying the way for more grounded struggles for recognition and the development of a more complex state-subjectivity

Local Government: Strengthening Capacity – A Review of Measures Taken in the Last Fifteen Years

Recurring episodes of local protests, in the period preceding the 2006 elections, have focused public attention on the state of local government. The main cause of this spectacle is reportedly inadequate or/and absence of municipal services (Ndletyana, 2007). This inevitably raises questions about the capacity of local government to execute its mandate. Existing backlog in social infrastructure renders the resolution of this problem even more urgent. In September 2005, the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) reported that a significant number of municipalities were failing to provide social services (Atkinson, 2007). Moreover, municipalities are increasingly expected to lead economic development in their respective communities. The purpose is to make residential areas more than just places of residence but also economically viable to absorb residents into the labour market. This is a response to the high rate of unemployment that not only denies residents a quality lifestyle, but also breeds anti-social behaviour with unsettling consequences for the community. Thus, among others, municipalities lead public works programmes, build infrastructure and initiate local development, all in an attempt to create employment and better living conditions (www.thedplg.gov.za). Needless to say, if the backlogs continue unattended and a significant segment of South African populace remains economically inactive, local unrests and a host of other anti-social behavioural traits are likely to persist. Municipal capacity, therefore, is the catalyst in this whole scenario. This begs the question: Do municipalities have the requisite capacity to live up to their mandate? The study sought to answer the afore-mentioned question. Specifically, the study sought to ascertain the existing level of skills relative to municipal needs; evaluated the existing programmes introduced to offset a lack of municipal capacity; and then, where possible, made some recommendations on how these programmes could be strengthened

Board level (in)visibility and critical mass in South African companies

PURPOSE : Women still face barriers that delay their upward mobility in organisations. This study aims to examine whether women experience critical mass as sufficient to shift deep level discursive dynamics, theorised as an (in)visibility Vortex. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : A qualitative method was used to collect and analyse data on the lived experiences of 16 board-level female leaders who have been appointed to male-dominated boardrooms in South Africa. FINDINGS : The findings confirm that numeric representation is too simplistic to resolve deep level gendered dynamics. At a personal level: self-confidence, a bigger purpose and competence-experience were found to be counter-forces to Vortex. The role of the chairperson was also crucial. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS : Organisations must be reminded that even where the number of women on a board has reached beyond a critical mass, hidden barriers still exist. When developing women leaders, practitioners need to penetrate below the surface to appreciate the undercurrents and address them at that level. Organisations need to nurture the personal attributes that counter the forces of the Vortex. Mentorship, sponsorship and coaching may be beneficial. The role of the chairperson is especially important in disrupting deep level dynamics. Chairpersons need to be more deliberate and proactive to refute behaviours that exclude and undermine women’s full participation. ORIGINALITY/VALUE : Contrary to the (in)visibility perspectives, the women in this study did not “withdraw” or “conceal” their gender when “exposed” in male-dominated boardroom dynamics. Reasons for this are explored including the potential for further research on the construction of a “trailblazing” identity.http://www.emeraldinsight.com/1754-2413.htmhj2021Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS

“Ndiyindoda” [I am a man]: theorising Xhosa masculinity

Masculinity studies in South Africa depend on Western gender theories to frame research questions and fieldwork. This article argues that such theories offer a limited understanding of Xhosa constructions of masculinity. Xhosa notions of masculinity are embodied in the concept of indoda, meaning a traditionally circumcised person. This article explores the nuanced meanings of indoda and its relationship to other masculinities, like uncircumcised boys [inkwenkwe] and medically circumcised men. The discussion reveals that indoda is the most “honoured” form of masculinity. A traditionally circumcised individual is regarded as indoda, a real man, irrespective of his sexual orientation or class, and this affords him certain rights and privileges. Inkwenkwe and medically circumcised men embody “subordinate” forms of masculinity and are victims of stigma and discrimination by indoda. This requires us to revisit some Western theories of masculinity which place heterosexual men at the top of a masculine hierarchy and gay men at the bottom. It furthermore requires us to pay attention to the body when theorising Xhosa masculinity, since it is a principal way of “proving” and “defending” Xhosa manhood.IBS

Tiyo Soga

This chapter is about the life of Tiyo Soga, the first internally educated black South African and priest, a pioneer of African literature, and a seminal intellectual. He embodies the paradox of the civilising mission. He personified the modernising influence of the missionary enterprise, but was also an indictment of the supposed moral virtue of the colonial establishment.

Congress of the people: a promise betrayed

The future of The Congress of the People (Cope) looks bleak, as bitter leadership clashes have dented its moralist orientation, big business is reluctant to been seen supporting opponents of the ANC, and black professionals and the middle classes have been alienated by the party's stand against affirmative action, writes MCEBISI NDLETYANA.

Political Management of Ethnic Perceptions: An Assessment of the African National Congress

This paper argues that the ANC has historically followed a moderate route – embracing tradition, whilst denouncing tribalism. Yet, this did not insulate the party from accusations of ethnic bias – a perception the leadership largely left unattended. But, entry into the arena of competitive politics has imposed a slight modification on the part of the party towards pandering to ethnic sentiments, albeit not officially acknowledged. The intention is not to cultivate political tribalism in a divisive sense. Rather, it is employed to cultivate among ethnic communities, which otherwise feel marginalised, a sense of identification with the ruling party. The party itself has done well to blunt the perception of ethnic bias to a point where it lacks popular resonance. That the perception itself still exists, reflects the saliency of (politicised) ethnic consciousness among the populace owing to past apartheid machinations in service of political hegemony.African Journal on Conflict Resolution Vol. 7 (2) 2007: pp. 135-16

A fight for the soul of local government in rural areas: a case study of the Dalindyebo area in the Eastern Cape, 1995-2001

A dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Studies by Research to the Faculty of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2004This study documents and analyses the process of rural democratization. Specifically, it offers an insight into the experience and attitude of rural people towards democratization; the response of chiefs towards the process: and into why the government initiated the process and the strategies it employed to elicit popular consent and compliance from the rural folk and traditional leaders. The study primarily covered the period from 1995 to 2001 using the village of Xhwili, near Umtata in the Eastern Cape Province, as a case study. The study itself was a response to the polarized public debate that erupted at the onset of the democratic process. One view opposed rural democratization reasoning that rural communities were traditional therefore unsuitable for modern institutions of governance and practices. Another view contended that, on the contrary, traditional people regarded chieftaincy as illegitimate and would welcome their replacement by elected councilors and municipalities. Straddling between the opposing viewpoints was· another contention that urged for a combination of both traditional and modern institutions in local government as each had a crucial role to fulfill. Alienating either institution, it was reasoned, would either be unconstitutional or incite political instability in rural communities. Presented in this study, therefore, is an insight into how rural democratization has unfolded and addressed the concerns and anxieties that greeted its introduction in 199Andrew Chakane 202