Statutory Trails in the Research, Policy and Practice Nexus Continuum - RL Vol XI No XL, CXXIV, MMXVII.pdf

Statutory Trails in the

Research, Policy and Practice

Nexus Continuum

Legislative and Institutional Pathways interfacing the Research, Policy and Practice (RPP) Nexus

Translating Research Evidence through Policy to Practice

Public Lecture - RL Vol XI No XL, CXXIV, MMXVII

Costantinos Berhutesfa Costantinos, PhD

Professor of Public Policy & Sustainable Institutional Reforms

https://addisababa.academia.edu/CostyCostantinos

Abstract

The research augurs on challenges and opportunities in interfacing research, policy and practice for sustainable Develop­ment is an integrated package of policy, technology, investment strategies and appropriate decision-making tools which are used together to promote sustainable livelihoods by building on local adaptive strategies. The aim of the research is the production of knowledge on current and priority issues on the research-policy-practice nexus in order to better feed into the requirements of participatory assessment, planning and research-outreach inter­face in policy formulation and results-oriented strategic pro­gramme management.  The methodology presents questions, guidelines and issues which the study must address and adhere to. In order to realise the goals and objectives of the nexus, the research seeks to capture the synergies arising out of the in­teraction between contemporary and indigenous knowledge, and the conditions and processes which produce and reinforce home growing actionable policies. Analytical challenges to the research-policy- practice nexus are  gener­ally are marked by several limitations: a tendency to narrow the nexus to the terms and categories of immediate, not very well considered, political and social ac­tion, a naïve realism, as it were; inat­tention to problems of articulation or produc­tion of global systems and process within local politics rather than simply as formal or abstract possibilities; a nearly ex­clusive concern in certain institu­tional perspectives on the nexus with ge­neric attributes of social, economic, cul­tural and political or­ganisations and conse­quent neglect of analysis in terms of their specific strategies and perfor­mances; ambiguity as to whether civil society, African academia and think tanks are agents or objects of  change; and inadequate treatment of the role of policy transfers from the Bretton Wood Institutions and of relations between global and indigenous aspects or dimensions of these policy transfers. The study concluded that there is no single factor that influences implementation, and there is no single theory that explains implementation challenges. The political context and intellectual environment with in which policy is formulated and imple­mented explains the success in interfacing the research-policy- practice nexus.

Key words: analytical challenges, research, policy and practice

See link here or https://www.academia.edu/34932934/Statutory_Trails_in_the_Research_Policy_and_Practice_Nexus_Continuum_-_RL_Vol_XI_No_XL_CXXIV_MMXVII.pdf

Developing Political Culture in Fledgling African Democracies RL Vol XI No XLIII, CXXIV, MMXVII

Developing Political Culture in Fledgling African Democracies –

What are the Political Transition Elements that are Amenable to the Architecture of a ‘Western’ rendition of a Democratic State in Africa?

Public Lecture - RL Vol XI No XLIII, CXXIV, MMXVII

Costantinos Berhutesfa Costantinos, PhD

Professor of Public Policy & Sustainable Institutional Reforms

https://addisababa.academia.edu/CostyCostantinos

Abstract

At the dawn of political liberalisation in Africa, students, churches and labour unions are among civil society organisations that played a crucial role in resisting arbitrariness. These organisations have been spearheading the demo­cratic struggle well before the recognition of political parties & induction of pluralism. The leading role in the transition was without doubt played by the press, the pri­vate press in particular, which reported daily on what was stake in the repression of the pro-democracy struggle. Better yet the interdictions, the multiple trials against journalists have not dampened the combative fervour of a free press. It is assumed that the inception of transition signifies the end of a stable set of rules that depict the previous regime, and that the completion of the transition is marked by the establish­ment of a new rule equilibrium. Nonetheless, ethnic and religious purchased elections are prescription to perpetuate the new tyrants. Po­litical participation is not just a casting of votes - it is a way of life, hence, elections are vital, but not a sufficient, condition for democracy. Electoral bodies should develop ex­tensive indicators for democratic political culture development where the key to transition is the endowment of political rules and institutions conducive to democratic transition (Costantinos, 1996). Good economic performance de­creases the probability of losing while the provision of public goods in the election period affects the probability to accept an election outcome. High tertiary education enrolment, eth­nic religious fractionalisation increase the probability of contestation of election results by the chal­lenger when the incumbent claims victory (Ncube, 2013). Political factors, such as the strength of the opposition, multi-party system, civil incumbent and power alternation increase the probability of the challenger winning and taking over power. Abundant natural resources increase the probability of incumbent losing but then deciding to cling to power, where empirical evidence also shows that the type of former-colonizer of the country matters.

Key words: elections, political liberalisation, democracy capacity development, political rules and institutions, multi-party system, opposition, former-colonizers

See lecture here or https://www.academia.edu/34976733/Developing_Political_Culture_in_Fledgling_African_Democracies