Civil society and the consolidation of democracy in Ghana’s fourth republic

Botchway, Thomas Prehi

doi:10.1080/23311886.2018.1452840

Cited by 21 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…As several studies have shown, a vibrant and independent civil society is a sturdy prerequisite for the continued existence of democracy across the globe (Botchway, 2018b;Bernhard et.al, 2015;Diamond, 1997;Gyimah-Boadi, 1996;Bratton, 1994). Diamond (1997) has argued that democracy can be promoted by civil society in 'two generic ways.'…”

Section: The Robustness Of Civil Societymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Over the years, there has been the belief that civil society serves as an effective tool for the generation of political approval and as such it has become the basis for asserting the legitimacy of state's authority (Botchway, 2018b). Consequently, elites may not be able to exercise authority without the consent and approval of the masses: 'for as long as civic actors grant consent, civil society exists in a complementary relationship to the state' (Bratton, 1994, p.9).…”

Section: Civil Society and Democratic Consolidationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In consequence, CSOs have been major stakeholders in helping in the formulation and implementation of various programs aimed at the eradication of poverty, promoting good governance, and consolidating democracies in Africa (Mercer, 2003;Mercer & Green, 2013;Botchway, 2018b). For instance, CSOs in the late 1990s were key instruments in producing the National Poverty Eradication Strategy (NPES) which was an important document that outlines Tanzania's plans that aimed at reducing poverty in the country (Mercer, 2003).…”

Section: Civil Society Democracy and Development In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed in contemporary times, the study of civil society has become a prerequisite to understanding the details of democratic change around the world. This is because studies reveal that a vibrant civil society is in many ways crucial for initiating, maintaining, and consolidating a democracy (Diamond, 1994;Botchway, 2018b). However, understanding the role of civil society in the democratic process calls for more intricate constructions and the creation of fine distinctions regarding what civil society is and what democracy ought to be, and this makes such a study a difficult one (Diamond, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding the Dynamics and Operations of Civil Society in the 21st Century: A Literature Review

Botchway¹

2019

JPL

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This article sets out to review the extant literature on civil society. Indeed the literature on civil society abounds with several views and perspectives, especially on the theoretical debates on the concept. However, in order to avoid the unnecessary entanglement of the unending theoretical debates that have characterized the subject, the article focuses on the activities and operations as well as the usefulness of civil society in the twenty first century. The article consequently tries to identify the literature that discusses the activities of civil society across the globe. It begins by giving a general background to the concept of civil society. This is then followed by discussions on civil society and how it relates to democracy and democratic consolidation and development in different parts of the world with particular emphasis on Africa. It then examines the activities of CSOs in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region (with emphasis on Malaysia). It further examines the changing nature of CSOs in the midst of global crisis by discussing how civil society has operated in challenging times amidst financial crisis, terrorism, etc. It concludes by suggesting some new ways of understanding civil society.

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Section: The Robustness Of Civil Societymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Civil Society and Democratic Consolidationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Civil Society Democracy and Development In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding the Dynamics and Operations of Civil Society in the 21st Century: A Literature Review

Botchway¹

2019

JPL

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“…Informant 1, 2, 3 and 6 had attested to the fact that CDD, ACE and SDN have played immense roles in ensuring a conflict-free process of democratization which eventually led the process to unimaginable successes. In relation to peace-building, the CSOs have contributed extremely in promoting multiparty democracy because they have strengthened and removed the feeling of distrust and bitterness among political parties (Botchway, 2018). Through this the political parties come together and use the same platform to advance their party's manifestoes and interrelate with each other without any rancour.…”

Section: 1mentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of the Roles and Challenges of Civil Society Organizations on the Process of Democratic Consolidation of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

Umar

2019

JBSEE

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organizations (CSOs) in the democratic consolidation of Nigeria. As the third sector, civil Society is known to be at the forefront in the democratization process for quite a long period of time, but their contributions are continuously being relegated especially by the state who viewed them with negative lenses particularly when they are opposed to their conducts. The paper had therefore tried to examine three civil society organizations namely Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Alliances for Credible Elections (ACE) and Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN). Methodology: It achieved this objective by using a qualitative semi-structured face to face interviews supported with secondary sources of data. Nvivo 12 software was used in coding, categorization and general management of data. Results: The study revealed that CSOs in Nigeria have promoted the reliability of election by observing every phase of the country’s electoral process. Indeed, the CSOs have promoted democratic principles of civic participation, political engagement and tolerance among some political parties thereby advancing democratic consolidation in the polity. They have also stimulated policy changes in some crucial socio-economic policies. Again, the study revealed that CSOs faced economic problems which seriously distresses their operations and sustainability especially inability to extend into rural areas. It has also shown donor organization influence on the organizations which encroach their ideological base. Implications: The paper concluded by suggesting that the civil society must devise a means of economic survival as well as further strengthen their capacity through training and retraining to fully understand how governments operate for effective and concrete criticisms that would enhance democratic productivity to the people. Civil society should be allowed to freely ventilate democratically without threats from the state since it inspires governments to be more accountable, transparent, honest and responsive to the public needs, which will make it further win the support of the public hence reinforce its legitimacy.

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SARSCOV‐19 amidst corruption: Does the civil society matter? – An empirical study

Arkorful

Lugu

Charway³

et al. 2022

Journal of Public Affairs

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The pandemic outbreak has dealt consequences on global engagements and structures. With the ongoing search for pandemic‐mitigating measures and the excesses (notably corruption) erupted in its wake, concerns have been raised about the decline in public trust, transparency and satisfaction – particularly in Ghana. This situation has spurred multilevel governance discussions regarding pandemic management. Ensuingly characterising policy makers' propositions in this regard is the civil society's salience as a control valve to governance deficits like corruption. Therefore, transcending the anecdotal claims on civil society's efficacy, this study takes a state‐society perspective to probe its relevance in fostering trust, transparency and satisfaction, relative to corruption‐stricken pandemic governance. The current study engages the general systems theory as a conceptual lens. The structural equation modelling technique was used in analysing data ( n = 519) gathered through the questionnaire survey approach. Though results of data analysis affirmed the negative effects of corruption on trust, transparency and satisfaction, the civil society received affirmation as an enhancer of trust, transparency and satisfaction. In view of these study findings, implications and future research suggestions are delimited.

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Civil society and the consolidation of democracy in Ghana’s fourth republic

Cited by 21 publications

References 13 publications

Understanding the Dynamics and Operations of Civil Society in the 21st Century: A Literature Review

Understanding the Dynamics and Operations of Civil Society in the 21st Century: A Literature Review

An Assessment of the Roles and Challenges of Civil Society Organizations on the Process of Democratic Consolidation of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

SARSCOV‐19 amidst corruption: Does the civil society matter? – An empirical study

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