Democratization in Malawi: A Stocktaking

Description

The vote in favour of multi-party politics at the National Referendum of 1993, and the subsequent General Election of 1994, heralded the advent of a democratic system of government in Malawi. lt soon became apparent, however, that there remained many obstacles to overcome before Malawi would be a truly democratic country. In this volume, a multi-disciplinary approach has been employed to examine both the progress and the pitfalls of the democratization process. Political scientists, lawyers, historians, theologians, literary critics, linguists, economists, and educationalists apply the tools of their respective disciplines to take stock of democratization in Malawi. This book is an indispensable guide to anyone seeking to understand the social and political situation in Malawi in the early years of the Second Republic. Cover Copyright page Title page Foreword to the 2020 Edition Contents Notes on Contributors Series Editors' Preface Introduction: From Totalitarianism to Democracy in Malawi Part One - Political and Economic Dimensions 1. The Mwanza Trial as a Search for a Usable Malawian Past The Mwanza Trial from the Government's Perspective MCP and the Mwanza Murders The Events: Who was Conspiring? Conclusion 2. Democracy, Ethnicity, and Regionalism: The Malawian Experience, 1992-1996 Concepts: Their Definition and Relevance Ethnicity in Historical Perspective Regionalism and the Banda Regime Democratic Transition, Ethnicity, and Regionalism Which Way Now 3. Economy and Democracy: Background, Current Situation and Future Prospects Economic Evolution since Independence Current Situation and Problems Future Prospects Conclusion 4. Competitive Politics and Chameleon-like Leaders Malawi before the Referendum and General Elections The Referendum and General Elections The Role of Leadership in Determining the Results of the Referendum and General Elections The Astonishing Example of Gwanda Chakuamba The Intriguing Case of Chakufwa Chihana Conclusion 5. The Kingdom beyond Zasintha: Churches and Political Life in Malawi's Post-authoritarian Era Church and Politics: Some Conceptual Issues Politics in the "New" Malawi: Setting the Context to Review the Churches' Record The External Face of the Churches: Change and the Limits thereof Internal Politics: Business as Usual? The Hidden Face: Threats to Civic Politics Movements for Change in the Church: Progressive Catholicism and the 'Born Agains' Conclusion 6. Prospects and Problems for Civil Society in Malawi Introduction Why Civil Society? Civil Society in Africa State - Civil Society Relations in Malawi Prospects for Civil Society as a Force for Change Part Two - Cultural and Educational Dimensions 7. Dr Banda's Cultural Legacy and its Implications for a Democratic Malawi Role of Culture in Democratic Society Dr Banda and the Cultural Question A Student Abroad An Exiled Professional Nationalist Leader and Law Giver Implications for the "New" Malawi Conclusion 8. 'All Men Do is Love, Love ...': Context, Power and Women in Some Recent Malawian Writing Critical Perspective Introduction Decontextualization The Basket Girl: Synopsis Sugarcane with Salt Synopsis Smouldering Charcoal 9. Politics in the Cartoon in Malawi: The Democrat Cartoons Introduction: Satire in the Democratic Political Discourse Political Cartooning in Malawi From the Referendum to the General Elections in 1994 After the General Elections, 1994 "Olemekezeka" (The Honourable) Conclusions 10. Government Journalism: From Totalitarianism to Democracy? The History of Press Freedom in Malawi Analysis of Newspapers Conclusion 11. Civic Education in Malawi Since 1992: An Appraisal 1. The Situation Prior to 1992 2. Civic Education and the Political Transition 3. Civic Education under the New Constitutional Order 4. Towards an Appraisal Conclusion 12. Politics of Language in Contemporary Malawi Introduction MCP's Language Policy Dr Banda and the Classics Cracks in the Edifice: Language Debate in the Opposition Papers UDF's Language Policy Evaluation Conclusion Part Three - Legal and Constitutional Dimensions 13. The Quickening of Judicial Control of Administrative Action in Malawi, 1992-1994 Introduction Grounds for Judicial Review Irrationality Procedural Impropriety Judicial Reviewability Locus Standi Procedure The Quickening of Judicial Control of Administrative Action in Malawi, 1992-1994 Conclusion 14. The Constitutional Change Debate of 1993-1995 Discarding the 1966 Constitution Aspirations and Intentions The Process of Changing the Constitution The New Constitution: Main Issues of Debate The New Constitution and Malawian Realities Conclusion Appendix 15. Does Malawi (Still) Need a Truth Commission? The Problem of the Past in Malawi Attempts to Deal with the Past 1994-96 Why a Truth Commission is Still Needed The Truth Commission as a Religious Imperative 16. The Limits of Liberal Democratic Constitutionalism in Malawi Introduction Constitutionalism and the Establishment of the Colonial State Constitutionalism and Neo-colonial Accumulation of State Power Post-1990s Liberal Democracy and the Revival of the Idea of Constitutionalism Reconstructing the Discourse on Constitutionalism in Malawi Conceptual Issues in a Reconstructed Discourse Final Reflections Select Bibliography Index Back cover