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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Africa and the Commonwealth: Moving from a Symbolic to a More Meaningful Relationship |
Author: | Kebonang, Zein |
Year: | 2003 |
Periodical: | Africa Quarterly |
Volume: | 43 |
Issue: | 2 |
Pages: | 36-48 |
Language: | English |
Geographic terms: | English-speaking Africa Africa |
Subjects: | Commonwealth international relations Inter-African Relations Development and Technology Economics and Trade Politics and Government |
Abstract: | A glossary of recent events marked particularly by the unprecedented changes in the political landscape that have included the holding of multiparty elections in Malawi, Kenya and Zambia, the dismantling of apartheid rule in South Africa and the return of civil rule in Ghana and Nigeria may be cited as achievements for the Commonwealth in Africa. Beyond this it is difficult to quantify what the successes and failures of the Commonwealth are and have been. While the Commonwealth may have some demonstrable success stories, there are many challenges it must still address. These include Africa's debt burden, issues of globalization, investment promotion, good governance, democracy, the rule of law and human rights, market access, corruption, and HIV/AIDS. Ultimately, however, it must be recognized that the Commonwealth is more a political bloc than an economic one, and that its mandate is necessarily limited to its core objectives: facilitation of democracy, human rights and sustainable economic and social development, on the basis of equality, trust and mutual understanding among the member countries. Notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract] |