Despite several idealistic efforts towards a united Africa, the term remains a hypothetical concept symbolizing a desired federal state on the continent. While globalization and interconnectedness have brought prosperity in some parts of the world, Africa has not generally benefited from global decisions. These decisions, policies, and practices have tended to be wholly influenced by the rich and powerful countries and their transnational agencies and corporations in pursuit of their national interests. Faced with such enormous external economic and political forces, the divided and powerless African states have been unable to bargain for lucrative economic deals or pursue national interests for the benefit of their people, hence the need to examine what exists in varied fields and the emerging trends for the future. Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Future of Africa and Policy Development addresses critical issues and challenges in Africa and seeks to examine and understand the future trends in Africa through a deconstructive interrogation of present trends. Covering a wide range of topics such as sustainability, equality, and democracy, it is ideal for researchers, academicians, students, economists, policymakers, political parties, trade unions, and NGOs.

A core political economy issue in the growth literature is how to structure the relationship between the public and private sectors to ensure optimal outcomes. While conventional arguments on the ability of the private sector to intrinsically generate efficiency gains remain valid, governments’ traditional role of providing an enabling environment to foster private risk taking for capital accumulation is no less important. African Policy Innovation and the Political Economy of Public-Private Policy Partnerships borrows from contemporary theories of policy change and raises some fundamental questions about the political economy of development in Africa. This book examines the current knowledge and research about the role of public-private policy partnerships in the policy innovation discourse. It contributes a comprehensive, cutting-edge analysis vis-à-vis the appropriateness of contemporary policy devices and paradigms, the compatibility of individualistic analytical frameworks with the African philosophy of Ubuntu, the debate on the rise of neoliberalism versus Africa's traditions and values, and the implications of path dependence for the African Renaissance. From local communities and NGOs to African governments and international development agencies, the author advances a multi-stakeholder development policy and programming framework which recognizes Africa's vastly heterogenous economies and societies. Covering topics such as policy diffusion, demographic shifts, inequality, rentier capitalism, industrial transformation, development finance innovations, venture capital ecosystems, tax policy and supply-side economics, ocean finance, the global minimum tax debate, and higher education under disruptive technologies, this premier reference source is an excellent resource for government officials, policymakers, entrepreneurs, business leaders, libraries, students and educators of higher education, researchers, and academicians.

Democratization of Africa and Its Impact on the Global Economy delves into the intricate relationship between democracy, governance, and development in Africa, shedding light on the continent's progress and its implications for the global economy. From its historical context rooted in colonialism and apartheid regimes to the present-day challenges of weak governance and underdevelopment, this book critically examines the factors that have shaped Africa's political and socioeconomic landscape. This book offers a comprehensive exploration of democracy, governance, and development in Africa. It delves into various topics such as models of democracy, electoral systems, political leadership, state building, democratic deficits, political violence, corruption, and the challenges of democratic consolidation. Additionally, it examines the significance of democratic governance, good governance principles, civil society engagement, and political accountability in shaping Africa's political landscape. Through a multi-disciplinary lens encompassing political science, development studies, anthropology, sociology, international relations, and public administration, the book offers a platform for scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to engage in critical dialogue and propose innovative strategies for Africa's renewal.

In today’s modern world, persistent violence against vulnerable groups and minorities permeates societies, making it difficult for them to flourish. Empowering these groups has never been more important as society attempts to evolve and focus on inclusion. To understand the best practices and challenges of empowerment for minorities, further study is required. Fighting for Empowerment in an Age of Violence analyzes the different forms of violence against vulnerable groups and minorities, states their civil rights, and illustrates the forms of weakening and violence supported by authorities against their own citizens. The book also highlights the challenges for people marked as unequal or weak and the possibilities that the 21st century offers to empower them. Covering topics such as gender roles, political violence, societal security, and globalization, this reference work is ideal for government officials, sociologists, psychologists, politicians, security experts, activists, researchers, academicians, practitioners, scholars, educators, and students.

In recent years, the growing disparities between rural and urban areas in developing countries have been a cause of major concern. The rural-urban gap remains the single most well-documented development and welfare disparity in the developing world. This gap can be seen in the low economic activities, higher poverty levels, and lower quality infrastructure and services in rural areas as opposed to urban areas. While the magnitude of this rural-urban divide is well-documented, very little has been documented about its impact on inclusive and sustainable urban development. The Handbook of Research on Managing the Urban-Rural Divide Through an Inclusive Framework aims to capture the spatial and socio-economic divide between rural and urban areas and provides a road map to revamping the discussion that surrounds the urban-rural sphere. Covering key topics such as development, food security, and rural regions, this premier reference source is ideal for policymakers, government officials, industry professionals, researchers, academicians, practitioners, scholars, instructors, and students.

Communication technologies have become an important tool for instantaneous effects and reactions both individually and collectively. The fact that traditional discourses become digital by transferring them through tools heralded a new understanding of digital in individual and social networks. The tendency to use these features offered by communication technologies in international relations, rather than just individual use, has emerged as a result of being built over digital in their discourse on diplomacy. However, the concepts of transparency and public offering, which do not exist in classical democracy, clearly show themselves in digital public diplomacy. Maintaining International Relations Through Digital Public Diplomacy Policies and Discourses reveals the tendencies of countries, institutions, and their representatives to use communication technologies as a diplomatic tool in international relations practices. It reveals the difference between the discourses built on digital media and classical diplomacy. Covering topics such as crisis management, new media platforms, and international relations, this premier reference source is an excellent resource for government officials, diplomats, social media managers, communications professionals, students and faculty of higher education, libraries, researchers, and academicians.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the world and left turmoil in every facet of society in its wake. As in-person activities came to an end for public safety, businesses closed, classrooms scrambled to transition online, and society was forever changed. As the pandemic comes to a close, it is essential that researchers take this opportunity to study the changes that have occurred so that society may revive what has been lost and promote resilience should another crisis arise. Societal Transformations and Resilience in Times of Crisis focuses on the revival of societal institutions after events such as natural disasters, pandemics, political turmoil, and global crises, and looks toward building more resilient structures. It contributes novel approaches and provides implications for countries to improve the social system through novel approaches. Covering topics such as employee psychological distress, democracy, and higher education institutions, this premier reference source is a dynamic resource for government officials, community leaders, non-governmental organizations, students and faculty of higher education, sociologists, business executives and managers, human resource managers, researchers, and academicians.

Democracy is a very important system of government found all over the world. A cardinal principle of democracy is periodic elections. Elections have various forms of propaganda at different levels, whether for unity, division, continuity, or another purpose. It is essential to research further into the developments in propaganda and political unrest so that global democracies may ensure credible elections and smooth governmental processes. Insights and Explorations in Democracy, Political Unrest, and Propaganda in Elections investigates how democratic governments can ensure credible elections in a peaceful atmosphere and an atmosphere of political unrest amidst various propagandas. The book assesses whether democratic peace is expected in all democracies despite the free occurrence of political unrest across many democratic societies in Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. Covering topics such as democratic accountability, political leadership, and youth marginalization, this premier reference source is an essential resource for government officials, public policy brokers, politicians, students and educators of higher education, researchers, and academicians.

The COVID-19 pandemic has offered the world and its governments many challenges in how they will conduct their responsibilities and best assist their citizens. The COVID-19 pandemic not only brought a global health emergency, but also helped to shed light on systemic inequalities, caused conspiracy and distrust within the masses, and exhausted global health services. The government and nonprofit sector, including healthcare, education, and social service organizations, will have to utilize the best practices, greater collaboration, and joint venturing to survive post pandemic. The Handbook of Research on Transforming Government, Nonprofits, and Healthcare in a Post-Pandemic Era serves as a resource for those in education, healthcare, government, social service, and other nonprofit organizations who wish to advance their missions in an age of uncertainty. It further discusses how democracy can continue to advance the world, its countries, and the way that we see one another. Covering topics such as BIPOC academic leaders, economic development, and health science education, this premier reference source is an essential resource for government officials, public administration, community leaders, advocacy networks, social service organizations, hospital administrators, health officials, medical professionals, students and faculty of higher education, researchers, and academicians.