• Lena Gutheil
• Lisa Tschörner

Working with Civil Society in Authoritarian Contexts? The Case of Niger

The recent wave of coups in the Sahel puts Western policy makers in a difficult situation: While they wish to maintain relations and vie for influence, they also want to avoid strengthening unconstitutional rule. Collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs) who are supposedly closer to citizens, is currently discussed as a way out of the dilemma. However, this policy brief reveals that especially in authoritarian contexts, the lines between CSOs and the state are often blurred.

doi:10.18449/2024MTA-PB28v02

• Zum Volltext (PDF) | 299 KB

Can Public Participation Deepen Democracy?

While public engagement has contributed to enhancing social justice in Nakuru City, Kenia, challenges in improving governance effectiveness and legitimacy persist. This is due to limited responsiveness of local elites, political and legal loopholes, and restricted public participation.

doi:10.18449/2023MTA-PB18

• Zum Volltext (PDF) | 265 KB

Civil society participation in urban governance in Africa. Supporting CSOs’ political voice for a transformation of citizen–state relations

• Deutsch

Urbanisation offers great potential for Africa’s economic and social development but the rapid transformation is also putting a strain on Africa’s cities. Citizens have long demanded participation in urban governance that goes beyond elections. Although participatory processes have become increasingly evident, they are still far from being institutionalised at scale. This policy brief argues that participatory processes need to be thoroughly embedded in politics in order to move beyond particularistic gains towards a structural improvement of relations between citizens, CSOs, and local governments.

doi:10.18449/2022MTA-PB05

• Zum Volltext (PDF) | 673 KB