Civil society and contested elections in electoral autocracies: Dissent and caution in Uganda’s 2016 elections

Sjögren, Anders

doi:10.1080/17448689.2022.2125415

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…The strategy is also seen to be a practice in Uganda where NGOs joined forces with opposition political parties to oppose the rules which constrained the civic space (Sj€ ogren (2022). Kyrgyzstan organizations like Freedom House collaborated with 231 CSOs to file a petition against the foreign agents law in 2014 (Cheeseman and Dodsworth, 2023).…”

Section: Coalitions and Collaboration With Like-minded Organizationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advocacy non-governmental organizations (NGOs) resiliency to shrinking civic space in Tanzania

Rugeiyamu,

Nguyahambi

2023

JHASS

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PurposeThe world is experiencing democratic backsliding such that the situation is down back to 1986. This has resulted in the global shrinking of civic space for civil society organizations (CSOs). NGOs engaging in advocacy activities are seen to be among the CSOs affected. Using four NGOs cases from Tanzania, the study contributes to the civic space debate by uncovering how advocacy NGOs become resilient.Design/methodology/approachThe study is anchored in interpretivism and a cross-sectional case study design, following a qualitative approach path. Data were collected through interviews and a documentary review.FindingsResults show that several strategies such as complying, building community back-up, collaboration, strategic litigation, using digital media and changing the scope are applied. However, strategies face obstacles including scope limitations, expected democratic roles, high cost, changes in the scope and being outsmarted by the government, and hence their effectiveness is questionable.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focused on advocacy NGOs. More studies can be conducted for other advocacy-related CSOs on how they become resilient.Practical implicationsWhile NGOs are allowed to exist in the country, their freedom continue to be curtailed. Even the effectiveness of resiliency becomes temporary and depends on the political will of the existing regime.Originality/valueTanzania NGOs have to build strong bonds with citizens, expand the scope of strategies and use deliberative democratic principles to educate the government to change laws and tolerate plural political culture. Also, NGOs in other countries with confined civic space can apply the same.

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Section: Coalitions and Collaboration With Like-minded Organizationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advocacy non-governmental organizations (NGOs) resiliency to shrinking civic space in Tanzania

Rugeiyamu,

Nguyahambi

2023

JHASS

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“…Effective electoral justice and electoral dispute resolution as a component of electoral democracy in this study, is conceptualised as the presence of appropriate, effective & independent election conflict resolution mechanisms like the competent, independent, professional, timely and impartial Judiciary, Electoral Tribunal, or administrative body to handle election disputes & complaints (Sjogren, 2022).…”

Section: Effective Electoral Justice and Electoral Dispute Resolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Uganda have always conducted voter education campaigns and advocated for electoral reforms to happen, but have been suppressed by the government, have their accounts frozen, or even been completely closed, thereby suppressing the efforts to achieve fair elections (Sjogren, 2022).…”

Section: Statement Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

E-Enabling as a Technological Platform for Electoral Democracy in Uganda

Namayengo,

Mbabazize,

Barigayomwe

2023

East Afr. j. interdiscip. stud.

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Globally, failure to have active, effective, and full participation in elections makes democracy wishful thinking. Considering the ineffectiveness of traditional methods of political participation alone, online political participation (e-enabling), especially through the use of the internet and social media, comes in handy in a bid to have a fair and credible election. This study investigates how e-enabling can act as a technological platform for electoral democracy in Uganda. Specifically, the study aims to establish the relationship between e-enabling and electoral democracy among citizens in Uganda. Using the mixed methods, under a descriptive correlational survey, a sample of N=482 respondents were in the study. Based on Pearson’s correlation coefficients, results reveal that e-enabling is significantly related to electoral democracy. Providing platforms like fair electoral policies and guidelines to enable people freely adopt and utilise the internet in elections through free social media, free or low-cost internet, good nationwide networks, minimising internet shutdowns so that all electoral stakeholders can freely express themselves and actively engage in all stages of the electoral process with the utmost fairness, transparency and accountability will go a long way in having e-enabling as a technological platform for strengthening electoral democracy in Uganda

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“…Furthermore, they act with the goal of protecting and preserving the environment and natural and cultural heritage, protecting and helping marginalised groups and individuals in need, providing help to children with disabilities and their families, etc . In this context, an active citizen is an individual actively participating in the life of his/her local community, contributing to its welfare and quality, or an individual actively participating in the political life of his/her country (Bianchini, 2022;Sjögren, 2022) . Krizmanić (2004) emphasised that active citizens are different because of their motivation and interests .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On Volunteering – Mostly from Female Perspective

Ljubetić

2023

PBE

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The goal of this research was to determine students’ perceptions of acquired knowledge and information (and experience) on volunteering; personal preparedness/competence for volunteering; the usefulness of different teaching methods; and potential changes in the students’ attitude towards volunteering. In addition to the above, the participants were asked to state their reasons for deciding to volunteer in the future, the desirable characteristics of volunteers, and the personal qualities they wish to develop and advance to be prepared for volunteering. The research sample was limited by the number of students in a course and consisted of 24 female students and one male student. Therefore, the research’s focus on the female perspective of volunteering is justified. The research results confirmed the following: the appropriateness and usefulness of the course content, which enabled the students to acquire scientific-theoretical and expert knowledge and information on volunteering; the manner in which the students evaluated their preparedness and competence for volunteering as excellent or very good; the manner in which different forms of work contributed to the personal preparedness and competence evaluation, which resulted in the students’ change of attitude towards volunteering – ‘I want to volunteer’ – or confirmation of this attitude. Furthermore, the participants stated different reasons for their volunteering activities; they specified the desired characteristics of a successful volunteer and a number of personal qualities they wish to develop to be prepared for volunteering. It is precisely this aspect (self-improvement) that is considered extremely important in the early years of study, as it might be expected that the participants will continuously work on empowering themselves and acquiring and improving their own competencies (in all areas). The theoretical framework of the research is William Glasser’s Choice Theory.

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Civil society and contested elections in electoral autocracies: Dissent and caution in Uganda’s 2016 elections

Cited by 5 publications

References 56 publications

Advocacy non-governmental organizations (NGOs) resiliency to shrinking civic space in Tanzania

Advocacy non-governmental organizations (NGOs) resiliency to shrinking civic space in Tanzania

E-Enabling as a Technological Platform for Electoral Democracy in Uganda

On Volunteering – Mostly from Female Perspective

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