Fostering Institutional Development and Vital Change in Africa and Asia

verfasst von: Dr. Fred M. Hayward

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

This book looks at the question of what makes for successful change in developing countries. It focuses on people at every level in six developing countries in Africa and Asia who have helped foster positive change and development, most of which has been successful. Here, in contrast to so much academic writing on development which focuses on leadership alone, the author tries to get beyond that elite focus and highlight the people at all levels who make change possible. He examines the role and significance of these ordinary citizens and groups as well as leaders. Transformation almost always requires action and support at multiple levels from individuals, communities, and local leaders. The project analyses the cases of Afghanistan, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Pakistan, and South Africa.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Sierra Leone—First Impressions and Experiences in Africa

Abstract

In the 1960s people were excited about the directions of government, with high expectations for development, and growth of the economy—expectations which were being achieved. Sierra Leone had a well-functioning multi-party system. It was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to have an opposition party win an election in 1967. That came to an end with a military coup engineered by the losing candidate which brought turmoil and corruption. After the return of Siaka Stevens to the presidency followed by Joseph Momoh, there was another coup and year of corruption under military rule and the governments that followed. This is a sad commentary on what was such an outstanding start. It demonstrates the long-term havoc resulting from military rule. Hopefully recent elections will improve the situation.

Fred M. Hayward

Chapter 2. Ghana, a Model of Development

Abstract

Ghana is one of the few African countries never to have a civil war. This has helped produce a strong sense of community locally and nationally as well as great pride among Ghanaians. At the same time, a traditional commitment to local and regional autonomy and responsibility remains and that too has been important to success. That is clearly expressed by the achievements in the two local cases examined in this chapter on Ghana: that of the University for Development Studies (UDS) in the North, and in Apiride in Southern Ghana with its traditions of healing and cooperation. They are an excellent example of how local leadership and public participation fosters development and change as well as their critical importance to success.

Fred M. Hayward

Chapter 3. Madagascar: An Island Nation Seeking to End Its Isolation and Update the Educational System

Abstract

At the time of my work in Madagascar the government was highly successful having cut corruption and worked to improve education, health care, and other areas. On the other hand, in no country in which I have worked has an ex-colonial government, France, retained such power or assumed that it had the right to influence, intervene, and sometimes control government. French interference was largely responsible for the coup that brought democracy to an end, stopped the improvement of education, and reversed much of the progress made by the previous government. These efforts forced President, Marc Ravalomanana, to flee to exile in South Africa. The post-coup military took to confiscating people’s cars, TVs, and other possessions, soon joined by the police and appointees to office. Even by 2020, the country had not recovered from the damage done to the economy after the coup, with a loss of tourism, investors, and trade. The case demonstrates how dangerous military intervention can be especially with foreign support, add to that uninformed populism and that can effectively ruin democracies, as it did in this case.

Fred M. Hayward

Chapter 4. A People’s Liberation in South Africa

Abstract

I was asked to return to South Africa, in April 2004 to help with the national elections because The African National Congress (ANC) had reliable intelligence suggesting that the governing National Party, and the Inkatha Freedom Party, were planning to try to fix the results of the first multi-ethnic national elections in history. We discovered many ways in which they were attempting to do that. In the end, with the help of lots of ordinary citizens, a few foreign election specialists and opposition leaders, we succeeded in ensuring fair elections by identifying these problems and eliminating them. This transition period showed the tremendous potential power of a repressed majority population to force a government willing to use extreme violence, imprisonment, murder, restrictions on movement for the Black populations, to eventually give up power.

Fred M. Hayward

Chapter 5. Pakistan: Top-Down Transformation

Abstract

Pakistan presents a particularly interesting case in that, unlike its former co-dependent colonial partner India, almost nothing happened to improve education from independence in 1947–2002, in spite of broad recognition of the problems. In 2002, with strong support from President Musharraf, and outstanding leadership at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) working with the World Bank, it succeeded in making major transformations in several areas including higher education. These efforts worked because of strong support, including major increases in funding, from the President and the World Bank as well as total commitment of leaders of the HEC. However, starting in 2008 opposition to the HEC grew in government and some higher education institutions, as well as Parliament and several ministries. Funding was cut substantially for higher education which was once again among the laggards in the region, with little academic or public protest. Pakistan is an excellent example of the risks of top-down change efforts and the consequences of transformation without fostering broad participation and understanding.

Fred M. Hayward

Chapter 6. Building Higher Education Amidst War in Afghanistan

Abstract

The achievements of the struggle for improved education, health care, gender equity, greater access to education, and a high-quality education system during more than thirty years of war, is one of the most remarkably successful transformations I have witnessed. This progress was made while a war raged killing more than 100,000 civilians from 2009 to 2020 with at least 5000 Afghan troops killed in addition. During this period phenomenal progress was made in several areas including health care and higher education. This happened because of the dedication and support of large segments of the population, the bravery of many of its citizens, as well as the courageous leadership of a number of people at many levels, willing to put their lives on the line for positive change. What allowed such transformation to take place from 2002 to 2016 in higher education during a bloody and devastating war was that higher education was isolated from politics in general, though with strong support from both Presidents from 2002 to 2016. As such, people were able to make changes in higher education that could not, at that time, be made in society as a whole, especially in terms of gender equity. The Taliban takeover in 2021 has undone almost all of that progress.

Fred M. Hayward

Chapter 7. Conclusions: Reflections on More Than Fifty Years of Working in Africa and Asia

Abstract

In the six cases examined above—Sierra Leone, Ghana, Madagascar, South Africa, Pakistan, and Afghanistan—I have tried to show, through examples, how successful transformation, especially in higher education, is not only the result of excellent leaders, but based on critical individual public participation at all levels—people who work to create the conditions for success.

Fred M. Hayward

Backmatter

Titel: Fostering Institutional Development and Vital Change in Africa and Asia
verfasst von: Dr. Fred M. Hayward
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-031-04364-2
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-04363-5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04364-2