Book contents
- From Divided Pasts to Cohesive Futures
- From Divided Pasts to Cohesive Futures
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: Understanding Processes of Change in Social Cohesion: Learning from Comparative History
- Part I Social Cohesion in Africa: Case Studies of Past and Present
- Part II Policies and Institutions for Social Cohesion
- 6 Redressing Inequalities in Societies
- 7 Vertical and Horizontal Decentralisation for Equity and Stability
- 8 Land Reform
- 9 Protecting Education from Ethnic Politics
- 10 Building Social Cohesion through Education in Africa? Lessons from Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya
- 11 Remaking Cape Town
- 12 Key Ingredients of Inclusive Politics
- Part III Conclusions and Policy Recommendations
- Index
- References
12 - Key Ingredients of Inclusive Politics
from Part II - Policies and Institutions for Social Cohesion
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2019
- From Divided Pasts to Cohesive Futures
- From Divided Pasts to Cohesive Futures
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: Understanding Processes of Change in Social Cohesion: Learning from Comparative History
- Part I Social Cohesion in Africa: Case Studies of Past and Present
- Part II Policies and Institutions for Social Cohesion
- 6 Redressing Inequalities in Societies
- 7 Vertical and Horizontal Decentralisation for Equity and Stability
- 8 Land Reform
- 9 Protecting Education from Ethnic Politics
- 10 Building Social Cohesion through Education in Africa? Lessons from Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya
- 11 Remaking Cape Town
- 12 Key Ingredients of Inclusive Politics
- Part III Conclusions and Policy Recommendations
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter considers what institutional arrangements are appropriate in multiethnic states, to help bring about political inclusivity. Policymakers seeking to promote inclusive politics must take account the political and economic consequences of the policies chosen. It is not only a question of technically appropriate institutions. Institutional design is a political process shaped by the challenges of the ethnic structure of the society in question, the nature of inequalities between the groups, the historical pattern of the institutionalization of power, and the dominant culture of politics. Two of the most important targets of institutional re-design are the territorial division of the state and the rules governing political parties and electoral systems. The chapter explores what the expected outcomes of institutional re-design might be and draws our attention to the dilemmas and trade-offs implicit in the politics of inclusion. It concludes that regardless of what formal and informal rules are adopted in any country, the over-riding principle should be the attainment of institutional and political ends which make for inclusive politics and harmonious inter-ethnic relations.
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- Information
- From Divided Pasts to Cohesive FuturesReflections on Africa, pp. 375 - 400Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2019