Explaining the design of the Rwandan decentralization: elite vulnerability and the territorial repartition of power

Chemouni, Benjamin

doi:10.1080/17531055.2014.891800

Cited by 80 publications

(62 citation statements)

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“…points to the presence and reach of Rwanda's central administration at every level of the social space in rural areas. One of the consequences of such a tightly controlled and upward‐facing administration system is the ‘de‐politicization of local politics’ (Chemouni, : 253). Rather than democratic structures that represent local issues and contribute to the formation of national‐level policy, local administration appears in Rwanda as an efficient and responsive apparatus for the achievement of centrally set policy objectives.…”

Section: State‐orchestrated Reorganization Of Space and Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Exemplary Citizen on the Exemplary Hill: The Production of Political Subjects in Contemporary Rural Rwanda

Ansoms¹,

Cioffo²

2016

Development and Change

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Since the end of civil war and genocide in 1994, the Rwandan government has embarked on an ambitious plan to reshape the rural setting. Through a strategy of agrarian modernization, the Rwandan government is reorganizing rural space and production in order to foster economic growth. This article looks at how this spatial and productive reconfiguration contributes to the production of political subjects in post‐genocide Rwanda, and how this is constitutive of the political power of government. First, it points to the way in which the state authorities’ discursive practices utilize the concept of ‘exemplary citizenship’ to reinforce policy adherence. Second, it analyses how the reconfiguration of access to productive resources is intertwined with the reinforcement of the state's authority. Hidden behind the discourse of modernization and rationalization, the reorganization of space helps central authorities to gain a greater degree of control over rural settings. Finally, it analyses the way in which the reorganization of rural space contributes to the construction of political subjectivity. Political subjects are defined through adherence to or rejection of the government's rhetoric of economic development and good citizenship as redefining moments of public life.

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Section: State‐orchestrated Reorganization Of Space and Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Exemplary Citizen on the Exemplary Hill: The Production of Political Subjects in Contemporary Rural Rwanda

Ansoms¹,

Cioffo²

2016

Development and Change

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“…The third foundational idea is the need to avoid political clientelism, which threatens to undermine developmental efforts and could lead to the resurgence of ethno-political mobilization (Golooba-Mutebi and Booth 2013;Chemouni 2014). From this perspective, electoral competition provides incentives for government officials to resort to clientelism and corruption as means of securing elected office.…”

Section: Developmental Ambitions and The Role Of Ideas In The Politicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Analyses have pointed to the RPF's 'systemic vulnerability' 3 as an explanation for the RPF's developmental outlook (Chemouni 2014;Mann and Berry 2016). From this perspective the need to broaden the ruling coalition-which continues to be associated with a Tutsi minority (Ansoms 2009), alongside resource constraints and ongoing security threats provides the ruling elite with little option but to establish a 'developmental state'.…”

Section: Developmental Ambitions and The Role Of Ideas In The Politicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In principle, imihigo combine national priorities and community objectives. In practice, however, research concludes that national priorities dominate and that imihigo enhance accountability of local government officials upwards to the national government (Chemouni 2014). Imihigo provide strong incentives for officials to deliver on their targets as a result of the formal signing ceremonies held with the resident and the use of imihigo as the basis for promotion and dismissal.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Despite ostensibly constituting a means of enhancing local participation, the ambitious political, administrative, and financial decentralization implemented since 2000 is frequently noted as having enhanced central control over local administrations (Ingelaere 2011;Chemouni 2014). One of the main influences on implementation is the performance appraisal system established in 2006.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Understanding Elite Commitment to Social Protection: Rwanda's Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme

Lavers

2016

SSRN Journal

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Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. This study has been prepared within the UNU-WIDER project on 'The political economy of social protection systems', which is part of a larger research project on 'The economics and politics of taxation and social protection'.. Terms of use: Documents in Copyright © UNU-WIDER and International Labour Organization 2016.Information and requests: publications@wider.unu.edu ISSN 1798-7237 ISBN 978-92-9256-136-9 Typescript prepared by Pat Baxter.The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research provides economic analysis and policy advice with the aim of promoting sustainable and equitable development. The Institute began operations in 1985 in Helsinki, Finland, as the first research and training centre of the United Nations University. Today it is a unique blend of think tank, research institute, and UN agency-providing a range of services from policy advice to governments as well as freely available original research.The Institute is funded through income from an endowment fund with additional contributions to its work programme from Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Katajanokanlaituri 6 B, 00160 Helsinki, FinlandThe views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s). Publication does not imply endorsement by the United Nations University (including the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research), the International Labour Office, nor by the programme/project sponsors, of any of the views expressed.Abstract: This paper examines the political economy of Rwanda's Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme, concluding that strong government commitment to the programme has been shaped by the specific characteristics of the political settlement that was established around 2000. For the Rwandan government, the programme has never been just about social transfer, but a key part of the development strategy that aims to promote social stability and the legitimacy of the ruling coalition through rapid socioeconomic development. In particular, the programme originated in an emerging distributional crisis in the mid-2000s in which rapid economic growth alongside low rates of poverty reduction threatened the government narrative of inclusive development. While donor social protection ideas have also been influential, these are purposefully adapted by government with a view to meeting its developmental and political goals.

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The Exemplary Citizen on the Exemplary Hill: The Production of Political Subjects in Contemporary Rural Rwanda

Ansoms¹,

Cioffo²

2017

Rule and Rupture

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Explaining the design of the Rwandan decentralization: elite vulnerability and the territorial repartition of power

Cited by 80 publications

References 11 publications

The Exemplary Citizen on the Exemplary Hill: The Production of Political Subjects in Contemporary Rural Rwanda

The Exemplary Citizen on the Exemplary Hill: The Production of Political Subjects in Contemporary Rural Rwanda

Understanding Elite Commitment to Social Protection: Rwanda's Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme

The Exemplary Citizen on the Exemplary Hill: The Production of Political Subjects in Contemporary Rural Rwanda

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