Journal of Politics and Governance

Interrogating the Basic Elements of Public Policy Using the Nigerian Examples

2025-01-13T15:34:20+07:00

This paper is designed to provide a succinct understanding of the basic elements of public policy analysis. It also provided for explanation basic concepts in public policy, and it exposes the readers to actors in public analysis policy using Nigerian examples. Based on the belief that public policy is a multifaceted discipline and activity regarding the policy can be better understood when they are considered in the environment in which it occurs, where the players are involved, and why such a public policy is being undertaken. Relying on secondary sources of data, the paper found that in most cases the public policy in Nigeria is anchored on demand and the immediate needs of the environment or citizens. It also found that the crisis of priority of demands exists, the ability of the groups where such policy demand is coming from goes a long way in determining when it gets to the agenda stage and subsequent stage of the policy cycle in the country. The paper concludes that a strong public policy system in Nigeria depends on the understanding of the basic elements of public policy

The Nexus in Intra-Party Conflict and Civil War in Ethiopia: An Appraisal

2025-01-13T15:06:04+07:00

This research paper examines intra-party conflicts and their impact on violent internal conflicts in Ethiopia. It investigates the institutional frameworks used to resolve these conflicts within political parties. The study reveals a threat to intra-party democracy, leading to destructive civil wars since 2018. Data from five Ethiopian political parties was gathered from October 2022 to August 2024. The research reveals a lack of procedures for resolving intra-party conflicts, which often result in violent civil wars. This can lead to party fractures and loss of support, affecting the entire national political system.

China's Modernization Approach: A Genuine Break from the Past or a Repackaging of familiar Developmental Discourse for African States?

2024-11-25T09:38:38+07:00

Many new states in the developing world after their independence adopted the western modernization approach which focuses on liberal democracy and capitalism as a panacea to their problem of low industrial productivity and underdevelopment. However, several decades after, the western modernization approach has not been able to bring about much development to the poor countries of the global south. Against this background, this article with the use of in-depth interviews and secondary materials examines the credibility of the Chinese modernization approach as a viable alternative to development in developing countries. Specifically, it examines the basis of the Chinese modernization approach and also investigates the extent to which the approach is a credible alternative to the western modernization approach. It also examines the significant differences in the Chinese and western modernization model. The findings of the study reveal that the Chinese developmental model offers a lot of significant innovations to African states which makes it to be a credible alternative developmental model to the western modernization model. This is because it demonstrates the importance of state led developmental approach for a developing country in need of development. In spite of this significance, the Chinese model is not a fit for all system, hence it recommends that African states learns from the Chinese experience and evolve a system that fits their needs based on lessons leant from the model.

The Milk Tea Alliance as Internationalizing Protest

2024-10-07T13:28:13+07:00

The Milk Tea Alliance movement acted as a tacit alliance linking pro-democracy advocates uniting citizens across Asia. The loose collective is a reaction to authoritarianism, whether internal, as in the case of Myanmar’s civil war, or regional, as with the relationship between China and its neighbors. This loose ideological association uses social media to promote their message and collaborate with other democratic activists, transcending international borders. This analysis seeks to uncover whether the movement internationalized domestic protest movements’ solidarism to promote democratic values through mobilizing attention, amplifying popular cross-border opposition. Combing through Facebook’s corpus to temporally track participation behavior, this research questions whether the internationalization of domestic democratization movements represents instrumentalized exploitation of the popularity of trending hashtags, or rather represents a more integrative form of nonreciprocal solidaristic participation, potentially symbolizing the inculcation of universalist democratic values in an international protest movement that could outlive domestic opposition. The findings suggest that the majority of international participatory behavior occurred irrespective of the domestic state political situations of participants, and was therefore largely nonreciprocal. Thus, the Milk-Tea Alliance apparently represents a case of effective transnational solidarity.

Factors that Affected Policy Making of the European Union 2009-2019

2024-12-09T15:09:01+07:00

The reform of the European Union (EU) in 2009 with the Lisbon Treaty can be considered as the evolution of the EU, eventually becoming a Politico-Economic Union. It made the EU reach the point that it has become a quasi-federation and a group of nations that have a status of power on par with the world’s superpowers. This reform can be regarded as a power reflection of the European People’s Party Group (EPPG), which became the leader of the EU in 2004. The EPPG concentrates on consolidating the center of political power and uses laissez-faire economics. To obtain information, this study uses a research method in the analysis and evaluation of empirical phenomena related to the EPPG, political ideology as a factor, and the EU’s geopolitics. The research design focused on 2009–2014 and 2015–2019 periods. With the aforementioned methods, it was found that the EPPG guideline makes the EU more state-being and tangible, because it has a political mechanism and bureaucracy that is clearly and significantly separated from member states, for example, the court, central bank, and diplomatic corps, as a result of the Lisbon Treaty, in which EPPG is the main supporter. However, this also causes inefficiencies in handling economic recessions, resulting in mass protests across the EU. In conclusion, although there remain some differences, the European Union maintains political stability and unity in creating common policies together.

Social Capital of Local Community Businesses in Border Towns and Their Contribution to Supporting Tourism in Betong District, Yala, Thailand

2024-12-09T15:49:24+07:00

The development of local community businesses in border areas, particularly in Betong District, Yala Province, Thailand, is crucial for supporting tourism, a key source of income for the community. Social capital, consisting of human capital, cultural capital, and network capital, is a critical factor in enhancing the potential of local businesses. Human capital in Betong enables entrepreneurs to develop products and services that meet the needs of tourists. The area’s rich cultural diversity, a blend of Thai, Chinese, and Malay influences, serves as a unique attraction for visitors. Network capital, which includes relationships between entrepreneurs, the community, and government agencies, fosters collaboration in sustainably developing local businesses. The research methodology involves studying relevant documents and research, as well as conducting field surveys in Betong District, Yala Province, to gather information about local community businesses with the potential to support tourism. The focus is on businesses related to local products. Data is collected from local business operators through in-depth interviews to obtain relevant information. The analysis, using SWOT and TOWS Matrix tools, revealed that local community businesses in Betong District have strengths in natural resources, local culture, and robust social capital. However, they face challenges, such as a shortage of trainers for developing local products and incomplete infrastructure in certain areas. The findings are used to develop strategic plans for adapting and improving community businesses to fully meet the demands of the tourism market. While Betong District faces challenges in business development and infrastructure, the effective utilization of social capital can enhance competitiveness and promote sustainable tourism development in the area.

Behind Bars: Unpacking the Nexus Between Nigeria’s Federal Structure, Criminal Justice System, and Alarming Rise of Awaiting Trial Syndrome in Correctional Facilities – Challenges, and Pathways to Reform

2025-04-08T16:08:45+07:00

Federalism features three tiers of government alongside the traditional arms of government concurrently. The former constitutes the federal, state and local government which portrays a classical feature of federalism while the latter constitutes the executive, judiciary and legislature. However, the pattern of interplay and overlapping nature of responsibilities of the components units as created avenue for glitches and frictions for smooth operations of the criminal justice structure in practice. The objective of the paper is to appraise the effects of Nigeria’s federal structure on general management of criminal justice administrations, with concomitant effects of increasing awaiting trials across correctional centers in Nigeria. This study primarily relied on interview of key stakeholders within the justice delivery system and secondary from panel data of relevant international organizations, journals, articles, government publication and the internet. The population for this study was purposively selected across the police, judges, clerks, and correctional officers. The study discovered that Nigeria’s obtuse operation of the federal system of government constitutes delays in justice dispensation, power tussle, jurisdiction tussle and huge cost of operations. The study however, recommended creation of state police, speedy judicial and investigation process, clear jurisdiction of authority, review of the law framework among others as the remedy to the effects of the problems posed by the Nigeria federal structure on the justice system linking to the increase awaiting-trial syndrome among other recommendations.