In our conception of governance, the uniform and universal models based on the good governance concept, which some think States should apply like a ‘kit’ as a basis for their legality, are not the only choice: governance is, rather, the art of governing by applying management of the public sphere at different territorial levels, from the local to the global; it is the art of regulating relationships within each society.
In lieu of ‘good governance’, we prefer legitimate governance in the sense of management of public affairs and the exercise of power at the service of the common good with the support and under the control of those over whom this power is exercised.
Unlike supporters of current approaches, we do not think the definition of instruments for measuring and monitoring governance can replace a prior identification of the changes desired by protagonists.
View the document Towards legitimate governance - Paper n° 2007-03
Values and principles on which the means of regulating society are founded should be hammered out on the basis of shared references that populations know and accept.
Yet in reality there is a total void separating the processes of governance—in the administrative sense of the term—and the debate on values and principles.
At its core, the governance crisis in Africa is a crisis in values, particularly ethical values, whose remobilisation is a sine qua non condition for proper public action and appeased societies built on strong consensuses of how the public sphere should be managed.
Our goal is to use the collected experiences of actors from different socio-professional environments as a seedbed from which proposals can emerge.
We feel that each actor is an expert on his or her own reality and thus deserves to be listened to. Proposals for rebuilding governance should not be imposed from on high. Nor should they be based on abstract ideas. Rather, they should be based on a combination of critical thinking and concrete experience, the transversal analysis of which should serve to improve the practices of governance.
View the document Gouvernance profiles - paper n° 2007-02
Africa’s colonial heritage led to the creation of political societies based on a Nation-State that superseded specific characteristics of identity.
Yet history has shown that national unity can exist alongside recognition of the diversity permeating a society. In fact, the participation of each individual and each group in the construction of a nation depends on the importance placed on the affirmation and development of that individual or group’s identity.
For the Alliance, unity cannot be equated with the denial of specific characteristics; it corresponds, rather, to their harmonious combination. Placing greater importance on the specific characteristics of identity, particularly with regard to local communities, has become one of the conditions of survival of the African continent in an increasingly globalised culture.
Principles and mechanisms for managing public affairs and the public sphere in Africa have not sufficiently emphasized links between two—or three—important processes now in progress. One is the process of transforming the African State.
The other is a dual process of localisation/regionalisation: instances where policies are defined and put into motion are being transferred to the local level, while connection to the world market is modifying the rationality of production and trade systems and encouraging regional groupings.
Principles and mechanisms for managing public affairs and the public sphere in Africa have not sufficiently emphasized links between two—or three—important processes now in progress. One is the process of transforming the African State.
The other is a dual process of localisation/regionalisation: instances where policies are defined and put into motion are being transferred to the local level, while connection to the world market is modifying the rationality of production and trade systems and encouraging regional groupings.
Instead of sealing off the different levels, we think improving management of public affairs and defending African interests in the process of globalisation can be better achieved by articulating territorial levels and dividing up roles and responsibilities according to the principle of active subsidiarity.
«Civil societies have long existed in Africa… but there is a real issue positioning from civil society in Africa: 1/ between domestic and international demand ; 2/ between the needs of African people and the supply of donors. Most organizations have very few resources and are often funded by international donors who have their own issues and interests ; 3/ with a very political environment bipolarized : countries with a greater polarization between government and opposition. Civil society is struggling to position themselves, or in the case of power or in the case of the opposition.»
What are the issues of democratization and natural resources for civil society in Africa ?
Videos of the meeting of January 19, 2011, produced by Alter-media, on civil society in Africa
Intervention d’Assane Mbaye from Alter-médias on Vimeoen français.
Intervention of Firoze Manji from Alter-médias on Vimeoin English.
See all the videos of the meeting : http://mercredis.coredem.info/socie...
The local level should be the strategic level for rebuilding governance in Africa.
With true decentralisation as a basis, the local level can be used to imagine and apply new methods of participative and legitimate management of public affairs and local development.
The local level is also key to improving populations’ living conditions and preventing and resolving conflicts.