Non-Governmental Organisations (Ngos) and the Politics of Engaging Government in Tanzania
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Civil Society in the Era of Good Governance Dispensation: Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the Politics of Engaging Government in Tanzania By Andrew A Mushi A Thesis Submitted to The University of Birmingham for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of sociology School of Society and Governance The University of Birmingham March 2011 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder Abstract The thesis set out to investigate the politics of Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) engaging the Government in Tanzania. The aim of the study is to get an understanding of the context, ways and means in which NGOs in Tanzania engage (with) the government to influence its policies and decisions. The thesis also analyses the implications and role of NGOs in bringing about social change in Tanzania. The thesis shows the relationship of subordination that is constituted through the operation of NGOs within the social, economic and political institutions of Tanzanian civil society. It offers an insight into the neo-liberal views that informs the distribution of aid to developing nations, and the affect this has had on state-civil society relationships within the Tanzanian nation state. Theoretically, the thesis uses Gramsci’s notion of hegemony which applies both at national level and international level. The counter hegemony which Gramsci expounds in terms of war of manoeuvre and war of position has been highlighted in relations to works of NGOs and civil society development. The thesis examines the engagement of Tanzanian NGOs to influence the process of NGO Policy and Act making; and monitoring the poverty strategies through the Campaign Against Poverty- Tanzania (GCAP-T). The thesis posit the future of NGOs on how they could side and work with people to create a society based on people needs, vision and aspiration. Key words: civil society, activism, advocacy, engagement, hegemony, NGOs, development, policy, laws, Tanzania. i Acknowledgements Firstly, a big thank-you to all the people who have helped with the academic side of my PhD research beginning first and foremost with all the people I interviewed as part of the research. Special appreciation goes to TANGO for hosting me during the fieldwork. I am beholden to my Supervisors, Professor Mairtin Mac an Ghail and Dr. Jose Nafafe for the advice, encouragement, guidance and support over the years that shaped the work of this thesis. I am also beholden to all those who encouraged me during those difficult times when I found the demand of this thesis far too overwhelming, beyond my own abilities and contemplated quitting. In particular, there are two people who truly understood the nature of my frustrations with the dilemmas that this study sought to defuse. Nevertheless, because this research was close to their hearts, to quit was to let them down. They believed in this work’s potential to make the world better and kept telling me that through hard work, success was possible. My wife, Hilda and daughter, Abigail, thank you. Thank you my parents Abia and Naomi for investing in me. This thesis is a dream of my father and efforts of my mother. My sisters and brothers: Tonga, Vicky, Remeni, Edith and Jerome their love to me is unspeakable. My Brother-in-laws: George, Flenda and Raphael; and sister-in-laws: Judith and Lightness have supported me in the journey of this thesis in many and unique ways. My father and mother-in-law, Valentine and Catherine, have been my source of inspiration. Skills and inputs from my friends; Andrew Charles, Mwidimi Ndossi, Dr. Declare Mushi, Lingson Adam, Frida Godfrey, Dr. Zabdiel Kimambo, Niocodemus Eatlawe, Origenes Mushi, Jackson Kapama, Helen Kijo-Bisimba, Cleopa John and Graham Gordon helped the journey of this thesis to be less tiresome. Special appreciation goes to the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Programme (IFP) for their financial support that saw me go through the PhD journey. ii Dedication To my daughter, Abigail Anande: she was born the same month I started this thesis. As she grew and mastered some basic Kiswahili words, whenever she saw me reading a book or typing on a computer, she would jokingly say serikali na nchi (government and country/state). Right up to the time I finished writing this thesis, questions and ‘myths’ about governance and state were still puzzling me. iii Table of Contents Abstract ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- i Acknowledgements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ii Dedication ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ iii Table of Contents --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iii Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Chapter One -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Conceptual Foundation and the Theoretical Framework of Civil Society and NGOs -------- 10 1.0 Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 1.1 Civil Society Conceptualisation and its Evolution ------------------------------------------------ 11 1.2 NGOs as Organic Expression of Civil Society ----------------------------------------------------- 24 1.3 Gramcsi on Civil Society and NGOs ---------------------------------------------------------------- 27 1.4 NGOs and Perpetuation of Globalization Based on Western Liberalism ------------------ 36 1.5 Conclusion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 Chapter Two -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41 Research Methodology -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41 2.0 Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41 2.1 My Journey into the Mysterious World of NGOs ------------------------------------------------ 42 2.2 Research Design ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 44 2.3 Choice of Study Site ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 45 2.4 Sample, Sampling and Selection of Interviewees ------------------------------------------------- 47 2.5 Tools of Data Collection -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 47 2.5.1 Documentary Review --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48 2.5.2 In-depth Interview ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 2.5.3 Participant Observation ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 51 2.5.4 Use of E-groups and Emailing Listing and Email ---------------------------------------------- 53 2.5.5 Telephone Interview ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 55 2.6 The Field Process ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 56 2.6.1 Participation in the Day-to-day Routine of TANGO ------------------------------------------ 57 2.6.2 Interviews with NGOs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 58 2.7 Managing Insider Researcher ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 59 2.8 Data Analysis and Interpretation -------------------------------------------------------------------- 61 2.9 Ethical Concerns ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 62 6.10 Limitations Encountered ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 64 6.11 Conclusion ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 64 Chapter Three ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 66 Civil Society and the Development of NGOs in Southern-Africa ---------------------------------- 66 2.0 Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 66 3.1 Understanding Civil Society within the Southern-Africa Context ---------------------------- 67 3.2 Civil Society and NGOs in Post-Independence Africa and State Building Project ------- 75 3.3 Relationship of NGOs and State --------------------------------------------------------------------- 78 3.4 Good Governance, Partnership and the Poverty Reduction Project ------------------------- 85 iv 3.5 Role of Donors in Setting Agendas for NGOs ----------------------------------------------------- 94 3.6 Conclusion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------