Local Ownership of Projects in Situations of Fragility and Instability

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Local Ownership of Projects in Situations of Fragility and Instability USAID FUNDS AND LOCALS OWN: LOCAL OWNERSHIP OF PROJECTS IN SITUATIONS OF FRAGILITY AND INSTABILITY. THE CASES OF IDEJEN IN HAITI AND BUILDING PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN CASAMANCE, SENEGAL by Joseph N. Sany A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of George Mason University in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy Committee: _______________________________________ Jack A. Goldstone, Chair _______________________________________ Janine Wedel _______________________________________ Allison Frendak-Blume _______________________________________ Terrence Lyons _______________________________________ Clare Ignatowski, External Reader _______________________________________ James P. Pfiffner, Program Director _______________________________________ Edward Rhodes, Dean Date: __________________________________ Spring Semester 2013 George Mason University Fairfax, VA USAID Funds and Locals Own: Local Ownership of Projects in Situations of Fragility and Instability. The cases of IDEJEN in Haiti and Building Peace and Prosperity in Casamance , Senegal A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at George Mason University By Joseph Nzima Sany Master of Science George Mason University, 2005 Director: Jack Goldstone, Professor School of Public Policy Spring Semester 2013 George Mason University Fairfax, VA Copyright 2013 Joseph Nzima Sany All Rights Reserved ii DEDICATION To my wife, Melanie and our four children; I hope this work inspires them to continuously make a meaningful contribution for the betterment of humankind. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am very grateful to my wife, Melanie, who advised, supported and encouraged me to move forward with this research, when obstacles seemed insurmountable. Writing a dissertation is not only an intellectual endeavor, it is also a psychological one. It tests one’s resolve, stamina and determination. My mother Banen Christine, who left this world during this research, has always encouraged me to finish what I have started. The spirit of achievement, self-discipline and hard work, which helped her raise nine children, inspired me. I felt her gentle presence during the entire six years of this research. I would like to thank members of my dissertation committee. My chair, Dr. Jack Goldstone helped me translate complex concepts such as local ownership into operational constructs with concrete implications for development projects. Dr. Goldstone also guided and kept me focused throughout this project. Dr. Janine Wedel introduced me to qualitative research methods and taught me tools and tips without which, I could not have learned so much from my field work. Dr. Terrence Lyons’s advices enriched my analysis and helped me grasp the complexity of many conflicts in Africa, including the conflict in Casamance, Senegal. Dr. Allison Frendak-Blume’s constant feedback and constructive criticisms empowered me to apply analytical rigor and discipline required for this type of academic research. Dr. Clare Ignatowski offered her insightful perspectives that helped ground this dissertation in the field of international development and guided me through the maze of USAID’s operations. Beth Eck and Shannon Williams constantly reminded me of all the deadlines; without their patience and understanding, I would not have been able to complete this work. I would not thank enough my friends Mikerlange Remplait, Amani M’bale, Colette Chabbott, Ted Thomas, Gilles Pokam, Anne Salinas, Kelly Burk and Alison Milofsky for their valuable feedback and advice. My thanks also go out to all the men, women and youth in Haiti and Senegal who shared with me their thoughts and opinions on the cases; thus informing my analysis. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION...................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................ iv LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................... x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................. xi GLOSSARY........................................................................................................ xiii ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................... xv INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................. 1 PROBLEM STATEMENT: UNITED STATES FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND LOCAL OWNERSHIP ........................................................................................... 3 WHY IS THIS RESEARCH RELEVANT? ......................................................... 16 I. LITERATURE REVIEW: ........................................................................... 20 LOCAL OWNERSHIP OF INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE IN SITUATIONS OF FRAGILITY AND INSTABILITY INSTABILITY, SITUATIONS OF FRAGILITY: A CRITICAL LOOK ........... 21 Causes of situations of fragility and instability ............................................. 24 LOCAL OWNERSHIP: A CONCEPT AT THE CROSSROADS ...................... 31 Local ownership: Framing and definitions .................................................... 32 LOCAL OWNERSHIP OF INTERVENTIONS IN UNSTABLE CONTEXTS . 35 Conceptual issues .......................................................................................... 36 Operational Issues .......................................................................................... 45 PROCESSES FOR FACILITATING LOCAL OWNERSHIP ............................ 62 Local Participation ......................................................................................... 62 Negotiation as a transformative process of power relations .......................... 71 The role of learning in shaping relationships among actors in a project ....... 74 ASSESSING AND OPERATIONALIZING LOCAL OWNERSHIP: EXPERIENCES FROM RESEARCH AND PRACTICE .................................... 80 United Nations’ take on ownership ............................................................... 82 Attempts to Operationalize Local Ownership from Action-Research ........... 84 v PROPOSED ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK FOR LOCAL OWNERSHIP: THE “3C” – CAPACITY, CONTRIBUTION AND COMMITMENT ........................ 86 Commitment to the project ............................................................................ 87 Contribution to the project ............................................................................. 88 Improvement of relevant capacities and skills .............................................. 89 Indicating levels of participation ................................................................... 91 Framework for understanding the link between local ownership and supportive processes ...................................................................................... 96 II. RESEARCH DESIGN AND THE CASES ................................................. 98 PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH ........................................................................ 98 Central Question, Assumption and Hypotheses ............................................ 99 Research model ............................................................................................ 103 RESEARCH METHODLOGY: EXTENDED CASE STUDY ......................... 104 Justification of the methodology ................................................................. 105 Justification of cases .................................................................................... 109 Units of analysis .......................................................................................... 112 Data collection methods and analysis .......................................................... 116 Verification and Validation ......................................................................... 119 Data Analysis ............................................................................................... 121 Scope and limits of the research .................................................................. 123 III. THE CASE OF IDEJEN IN HAITI .......................................................... 125 HAITI: OVERVIEW .......................................................................................... 125 Haiti’s Fragility: A Brief History of Instability and Violence ..................... 126 Drivers of Insecurity .................................................................................... 132 UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE TO HAITI ................................................... 139 History of U.S. Foreign Assistance in Haiti: The Cold War and the Post Cold War .............................................................................................................. 139 Cold War Era ............................................................................................... 140 Post Cold War Era ....................................................................................... 147 USAID strategy in Haiti Since 2004 ........................................................... 152 THE CASE OF HAITIAN OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH LIVELIHOOD INITIATIVE ( IDEJEN ) ...................................................................................... 155 The Context of the Project ..........................................................................
Recommended publications
  • MYSTIC LEADER ©Christian Bobst Village of Keur Ndiaye Lo
    SENEGAL MYSTIC LEADER ©Christian Bobst Village of Keur Ndiaye Lo. Disciples of the Baye Fall Dahira of Cheikh Seye Baye perform a religious ceremony, drumming, dancing and singing prayers. While in other countries fundamentalists may prohibit music, it is an integral part of the religious practice in Sufism. Sufism is a form of Islam practiced by the majority of the population of Senegal, where 95% of the country’s inhabitants are Muslim Based on the teachings of religious leader Amadou Bamba, who lived from the mid 19th century to the early 20th, Sufism preaches pacifism and the goal of attaining unity with God According to analysts of international politics, Sufism’s pacifist tradition is a factor that has helped Senegal avoid becoming a theatre of Islamist terror attacks Sufism also teaches tolerance. The role of women is valued, so much so that within a confraternity it is possible for a woman to become a spiritual leader, with the title of Muqaddam Sufism is not without its critics, who in the past have accused the Marabouts of taking advantage of their followers and of mafia-like practices, in addition to being responsible for the backwardness of the Senegalese economy In the courtyard of Cheikh Abdou Karim Mbacké’s palace, many expensive cars are parked. They are said to be gifts of his followers, among whom there are many rich Senegalese businessmen who live abroad. The Marabouts rank among the most influential men in Senegal: their followers see the wealth of thei religious leaders as a proof of their power and of their proximity to God.
    [Show full text]
  • African Studies Association 59Th Annual Meeting
    AFRICAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION 59TH ANNUAL MEETING IMAGINING AFRICA AT THE CENTER: BRIDGING SCHOLARSHIP, POLICY, AND REPRESENTATION IN AFRICAN STUDIES December 1 - 3, 2016 Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C. PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Benjamin N. Lawrance, Rochester Institute of Technology William G. Moseley, Macalester College LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Eve Ferguson, Library of Congress Alem Hailu, Howard University Carl LeVan, American University 1 ASA OFFICERS President: Dorothy Hodgson, Rutgers University Vice President: Anne Pitcher, University of Michigan Past President: Toyin Falola, University of Texas-Austin Treasurer: Kathleen Sheldon, University of California, Los Angeles BOARD OF DIRECTORS Aderonke Adesola Adesanya, James Madison University Ousseina Alidou, Rutgers University Souleymane Bachir Diagne, Columbia University Brenda Chalfin, University of Florida Mary Jane Deeb, Library of Congress Peter Lewis, Johns Hopkins University Peter Little, Emory University Timothy Longman, Boston University Jennifer Yanco, Boston University ASA SECRETARIAT Suzanne Baazet, Executive Director Kathryn Salucka, Program Manager Renée DeLancey, Program Manager Mark Fiala, Financial Manager Sonja Madison, Executive Assistant EDITORS OF ASA PUBLICATIONS African Studies Review: Elliot Fratkin, Smith College Sean Redding, Amherst College John Lemly, Mount Holyoke College Richard Waller, Bucknell University Kenneth Harrow, Michigan State University Cajetan Iheka, University of Alabama History in Africa: Jan Jansen, Institute of Cultural
    [Show full text]
  • HAITI COUNTRY READER TABLE of CONTENTS Merritt N. Cootes 1932
    HAITI COUNTRY READER TABLE OF CONTENTS Merritt N. Cootes 1932 Junior Officer, Port-au-Prince 1937-1940 Vice Consul, Port-au-Prince Henry L. T. Koren 1948-1951 Administrative Officer, Port-au-Prince Slator Clay Blackiston, Jr. 1950-1952 Economic Officer, Port-au-Prince Milton Barall 1954-1956 Deputy Chief of Mission, Port-au-Prince Raymond E. Chambers 1955-1957 Deputy Director of Binational Center, USIA, Port-au-Prince Edmund Murphy 1961-1963 Public Affairs Office, USIA, Port-au-Prince Jack Mendelsohn 1964-1966 Consular/Political Officer, Port-au-Prince Claude G. Ross 1967-1969 Ambassador, Haiti John R. Burke 1970-1972 Deputy Chief of Mission, Port-au-Prince Harry E. Mattox 1970-1973 Economic Officer, Port-au-Prince Robert S. Steven 1971-1973 Special Assistant to Under Secretary of Management, Department of State, Washington, DC Jon G. Edensword 1972-1973 Visa Officer, Port-au-Prince Michael Norton 1972-1980 Radio News Reporter, Haiti Keith L. Wauchope 1973-1974 State Department Haiti Desk Officer, Washington, DC Scott Behoteguy 1973-1977 Mission Director, USAID, Haiti Wayne White 1976-1978 Consular Officer, Port-au-Prince Lawrence E. Harrison 1977-1979 USAID Mission Director, Port-au-Prince William B. Jones 1977-1980 Ambassador, Haiti Anne O. Cary 1978-1980 Economic/Commercial Officer, Port-au- Prince Ints M. Silins 1978-1980 Political Officer, Port-au-Prince Scott E. Smith 1979-1981 Head of Project Development Office, USAID, Port-au-Prince Henry L. Kimelman 1980-1981 Ambassador, Haiti David R. Adams 1981-1984 Mission Director, USAID, Haiti Clayton E. McManaway, Jr. 1983-1986 Ambassador, Haiti Jon G.
    [Show full text]
  • Shari'ah and the Secular State
    Shari’ah and the Secular State: Popular Support for and Opposition to Islamic Family Law in Senegal by Carrie S. Konold A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Political Science) in The University of Michigan 2010 Doctoral Committee: Professor Mark A. Tessler, Co-Chair Associate Professor Ted Brader, Co-Chair Professor Mamadou Diouf, Columbia University Professor Jennifer A. Widner, Princeton University © Copyright Carrie S. Konold 2010 Dedication To my parents, Phyllis and David Konold, With love and gratitude ii Acknowledgements I gratefully acknowledge the many individuals and institutions that have made this research possible. First, I thank my undergraduate teachers at Wellesley College— especially Craig Murphy, Joel Krieger, and Ann Velenchik—who inspired my love of learning and the courage to pursue my passions. I am indebted to my advisors at the University of Michigan who have provided intellectual mentorship and friendship throughout my graduate training, research, and writing. Thank you to Ted Brader, Mamadou Diouf, Mark Tessler, and Jennifer Widner for sharing your expertise and encouragement. It has been a true pleasure to know and work with you. Thank you to the many institutions that have funded various portions of my graduate training, conference travel, field research, and dissertation research and writing. At the University of Michigan, I thank the Center for the Education of Women, the International Institute, the Department of Political Science, the Rackham Graduate School, and the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies. I also thank the National Science Foundation, Fulbright IIE, CAORC, Wellesley College, the Charlotte W.
    [Show full text]
  • NZIFF19 Christchurch WEB.Pdf
    CHRISTCHURCH 8 – 25 AUGUST 2019 TIMARU 15 – 25 AUGUST 2019 NZIFF.CO.NZ NZIFF0619_Christchurch-1.indd 1 3/07/19 1:40 PM NZIFF0619_Christchurch-1.indd 2 3/07/19 1:40 PM 43rd Christchurch International Film Festival Presented by New Zealand Film Festival Trust under the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy, Governor-General of New Zealand ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL LUMIÈRE CINEMAS MOVIE MAX DIGITAL PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY General Manager: Sharon Byrne Programmer: Sandra Reid Programme Manager: Michael McDonnell Assistant to the General Manager: Caroline Palmer Communications Manager: Melissa Booth Publicists (Christchurch): Jo Scott, Tanya Jephson Festival Host (Christchurch): Nick Paris Publicist: Sally Woodfield Animation NOW! Programmer: Malcolm Turner All Ages Programmer: Nic Marshall Incredibly Strange Programmer: Anthony Timpson Publications Manager: Tim Wong Programme Consultant: Chris Matthews Content Manager: Ina Kinski Content Assistant: Lauri Korpela Technical Adviser: Ian Freer Online Content Coordinator: Sanja Maric Audience Development Coordinator: Emma Carter Guest Coordinator: Lauren Day Social Media Coordinator: David Oxenbridge Communications Assistant: Lynnaire MacDonald Communications Assistant (Auckland): Camila Araos Elevancini Online Social Assistant: Bradley Pratt Festival Accounts: Alan Collins Festival Interns: Erin Rogatski (Auckland) Jessica Hof (Wellington) Publication Design: Ocean Design Group Publication Production: Greg Simpson Cover Design: Blair Mainwaring Cover Illustration:
    [Show full text]
  • Carol Shenk Bornman Is Working in Louga with Friends of the Wolof and Mennonite Mission Network Since 1999
    A MEETING OF WORLDS IN SENEGAL Carol Shenk Bornman I relax on a mat in our main room with my two friends, Aminata and Fatou, resting during the heat of the afternoon. It is July 26, 2005, and sweet black tea called attaaya is boiling atop the charcoal burner. In the office nearby, the space shuttle Discovery commentary from www.news.yahoo.com plays on the computer where Caleb & Laurel watch the astronauts working in the shuttle. Upstairs, Isaiah watches the second Lord of the Rings movie. Then we hear the Muslim call to prayer from the mosque close by, much louder than the other two sounds, and quite jarring. A meeting of worlds: space shuttle and local mosque, LOTR characters and astronauts, a powerful prayer call and a powerful ring. We have many opportunities to ponder the meeting of worlds as we work in Senegal. Sometimes we sense a freedom to “push against” boundaries that seem to be set in stone. But more of the time we spend listening to our friends, getting a sense of where they are at in their world view and in their lives, and reading Scripture with them. Senegal’s Four Main Groups of Muslims I would like to start with a brief description of the four main groups of Muslims that live in Senegal, four active Sufi organizations that can also be found in other parts of Africa and around the world. Most statistics cite that 94% of Senegalese belong to one of these organizations, but the majority of those belong to the Tijanis or the Mourides.
    [Show full text]
  • Stephen Burman
    SENEGALESE ISLAM: OLD STRENGTHS, NEW CHALLENGES KEY POINTS Islam in Senegal is based around sufi brotherhoods. These have substantial connections across West Africa, including Mali, as well as in North Africa, including Morocco and Algeria. They are extremely popular and historically closely linked to the state. Salafism has had a small presence since the mid-twentieth century. Established Islam in Senegal has lately faced new challenges: o President Wade’s (2000-2012) proximity to the sufi brotherhoods strained the division between the state and religion and compromised sufi legitimacy. o A twin-track education system. The state has a limited grip on the informal education sector, which is susceptible to extremist teaching. o A resurgence of salafism, evidenced by the growing influence of salafist community organisations and reports of support from the Gulf. o Events in Mali and Senegal’s support to the French-led intervention have led to greater questioning about the place of Islam in regional identity. Senegal is therefore vulnerable to growing Islamist extremism. Its institutions and sufi brotherhoods put it in a strong position to resist it, but this should not be taken for granted. DETAIL Mali, 2012. Reports on the jihadist takeover of the North include references to around 20 speakers of Wolof, a language whose native speakers come almost exclusively from Senegal. Earlier reporting refers to a Senegalese contingent among the jihadist kidnappers of Canadian diplomat Robert Fowler. These and other reports (such as January 2013 when an imam found near the Senegal-Mali border was arrested for jihadist links) put into sharper focus the role of Islam in Senegal.
    [Show full text]
  • NZIFF 2019 Wellington Programme
    WELLINGTON 26 JULY – 11 AUGUST 2019 BOOK AT NZIFF.CO.NZ NZIFF0719_WELLINGTON-1.indd 1 19/06/19 2:40 PM Join our newsletter or follow us on social media, to keep up with the centenary programme of events. @mccahonhouse mccahonhouse.org.nz mccahon100.org.nz MH1425FANZIFF0719_WELLINGTON-1.indd McCahon100 NZIFF ad.indd 2 2 12/06/1919/06/19 5:362:40 PM 48th Wellington International Film Festival Presented by New Zealand Film Festival Trust under the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy, Governor-General of New Zealand 26 JULY – 11 AUGUST 2019 EMBASSY THEATRE PENTHOUSE CINEMAS ROXY CINEMA LIGHT HOUSE CINEMA CUBA PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY LIGHT HOUSE CINEMA PETONE SOUNDINGS THEATRE, TE PAPA CITY GALLERY WELLINGTON READING CINEMAS, PORIRUA General Manager: Sharon Byrne Programmer: Sandra Reid Programme Manager: Michael McDonnell Assistant to the General Manager: Caroline Palmer Communications Manager: Melissa Booth Publicist: Sally Woodfield Wellington Festival Manager: Elizabeth Ireland Animation NOW! Programmer: Malcolm Turner All Ages Programmer: Nic Marshall Incredibly Strange Programmer: Anthony Timpson Publications Manager: Tim Wong Programme Consultant: Chris Matthews Content Manager: Ina Kinski Content Assistant: Lauri Korpela Technical Adviser: Ian Freer Online Content Coordinator: Sanja Maric Audience Development Coordinator: Emma Carter Guest Coordinator: Lauren Day Social Media Coordinator: David Oxenbridge Communications Assistant: Lynnaire MacDonald Communications Assistant (Auckland): Camila
    [Show full text]
  • Islam and Democracy in Senegal
    Ute Gierczynski-Bocandé: Islam and Democracy in Senegal Religion holds an eminent position in Senegal, the crisis of the last decades having given a boost especially to Islam which ninety percent of the population of this west African country profess. However, the adherents of other denominations, mostly catholic Christians and followers of African religions, do not feel threatened: Religious discrimination is unknown in Senegal, where the state and religion are clearly separated and politicians maintain good relations with all religious authorities, endeavouring to encourage peaceful coexistence between the religions. Its relations with the Western world are as important to the Republic of Senegal as those with the Islamic countries. Thus, while President Wade condemned the attacks on the USA of September 11, 2001, the country will also offer Islamic states a platform for talks as it hosts the world conference of Islamic states in 2008. It is beyond doubt that Senegal is endeavouring to establish a symbiosis between Western democratic order principles and oriental religion. Senegal’s Sufism-oriented Islam is organised in brotherhoods with a dynastic and hierarchical order. Such a brotherhood is headed by a caliph who is succeeded by his brother or son. His regional and local representatives are called marabouts, and belonging to the family of a marabout may open many doors. Is this an encounter between a medieval feudal and a modern democratic society? Islamic monks arrived in the region as early as the ninth century, but they only converted the ruling elite, giving Islam the reputation of being a ‘religion of princes’. Kankou Moussa, the ruler of Mali, a flourishing gold kingdom until the 14th century, already knew well how to blend religion and economic interests.
    [Show full text]
  • Terànga and the Art of Hospitality: Engendering the Nation, Politics, and Religion in Dakar, Senegal
    TERÀNGA AND THE ART OF HOSPITALITY: ENGENDERING THE NATION, POLITICS, AND RELIGION IN DAKAR, SENEGAL By Emily Jenan Riley A DISSERTATION Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Anthropology - Doctor of Philosophy 2016 ABSTRACT TERÀNGA AND THE ART OF HOSPITALITY: ENGENDERING THE NATION, POLITICS AND RELIGION IN DAKAR, SENEGAL By Emily Jenan Riley Senegal, a Muslim majority and democratic country, has long coined itself as "le pays de la terànga" (Land of Hospitality). This dissertation explores the central importance of terànga– the Wolof word which encapsulates the generous and civic-minded qualities of individuals – to events such as weddings and baptisms, women’s political process, as well as everyday calculated and improvisational social encounters. Terànga is both the core symbol, for many, of Senegalese nationalism and collective identity, and the source of contentious and polarizing debates surrounding its qualities and meanings. The investigation of terànga throughout this dissertation exposes the complexities of social and gender ideologies and practices in Senegal. In addition, this dissertation aspires to investigate the subjectivities, and conditions of Senegalese women as well as their contributions to the social, religious, and political realities of contemporary Senegal, and Dakar more specifically. This dissertation focuses on how terànga is debated, talked about, and performed by several groups. First, it investigates the public discourses of terànga as a gendered symbol of national culture and its central importance to the construction of female subjects in their navigation of courtship, marriage, and family relations. Second, an exposé of family ceremonies and the women who conduct them, demonstrates generational shifts in the interpretation and value given to the process of terànga in a contemporary moment where daughters are redefining its meaning from that of their mother's generation.
    [Show full text]
  • Senegal's Reformers Call for Science to Fix Ramadan Dates
    SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2015 Senegal’s reformers call for science to fix Ramadan dates he Muslim holy month of Ramandan unites the Islamic world in ‘God is omniscient’ a devotional act of fasting from sunrise to sunset-but in Senegal An estimated 90-95 percent of Senegalese are estimated to be Tits approach brings divisive arguments over the moon. The Muslim, and Islamic practice takes the form of membership of one of annual observance, when the faithful commemorate the original rev- four Sufi brotherhoods led by a “marabout”, or Quranic teacher. Each elation of the Holy Quran to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), begins with of these-the larger Tijaniyyah and Muridiyyah orders, the pan-Islamic the appearance of the first slender crescent of the new moon. Qadiriyyah and the smaller Layene-instruct their followers on the start Yet this event is determined-in strict accordance with the Quran- of Ramadan after studying the skies with the naked eye, adding to the by observation with the naked eye, a practice many see as outdated. background noise. The country’s only astronomical society is pushing for reform to inject “In Senegal, it is the families that give the ‘ndigel’ to fast,” said some science into the process, but faces opposition from traditional- Ndiaye, using the word for “order” in the local Wolof language. “Each ists in the conservative west African nation. The National Commission family has its own committee to which its followers refer.” A CONA- for the Observation of the Lunar Crescent (CONACOCC) has the task of COCC member told AFP on condition of anonymity that Senegal’s determining the beginning of each lunar month and this week most senior marabouts were in agreement that this was the proper declared that Ramadan would start yesterday.
    [Show full text]
  • U.S. Foreign and Security Policy in the Early 21St Century
    DOI azonosító: 10.17625/NKE.2014.025 National University of Public Service Doctoral School of Military Science Gustav C. Gressel U.S. Foreign and Security Policy in the Early 21st Century PhD Thesis Supervisor Prof. Tamás Magyarics Co-Supervisor Col. Dr. habil. Ferenc Molnár 2 0 1 4 DOI azonosító: 10.17625/NKE.2014.025 To Martyna, who had to sacrifice many possibly joyful evenings for this paper! 2 DOI azonosító: 10.17625/NKE.2014.025 Content Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................................... 6 1. Introductory remarks....................................................................................................................6 1.1. Research questions................................................................................................................7 1.2. Hypotheses.............................................................................................................................8 1.3. Methodology and research procedure ................................................................................. 9 1.3.1. Data elicitation.............................................................................................................11 1.3.2. Data categorisation...................................................................................................... 11 1.3.3. Analysis and evaluation.............................................................................................. 12 1.3.4. Scope of the thesis......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]