Papers by Kwame Antwi-Boasiako
Traditional Institutions and Public Administration in Democratic Africa tackles the most pressing... more Traditional Institutions and Public Administration in Democratic Africa tackles the most pressing contemporary administrative issues of Africa. The first chapter opens with a thorough discussion on neo-colonialism in Africa. It questions the authenticity of African democracy as it points out the presence of groups and individuals who exploit African resources to their advantage. The chains of colonialism have perpetually defeated democracy in Africa and the former oppressors continue to financially and politically control their former colonies. The authors probe into the traditional institutions as well as the functions of the government to explain the political status quo of Africa. It emphasizes the negative impact of adhering to democratic structures that impair the positive practices and values of the traditional African administrative culture. An eye-opener, Traditional Institutions and Public Administration in Democratic Africa boldly exposes revolutionary views that challenge...
This book explores the transatlantic relationship between the US and Europe from multiple perspec... more This book explores the transatlantic relationship between the US and Europe from multiple perspectives and disciplines. Since the end of the Cold War, a multi-polar world has replaced the dual power economic and political stranglehold previously shared by the US and Russia. Amid the shift in power politics, the transatlantic partnership between the US and Europe has retained its importance in shaping the outcome of future global developments. With the rise of the US as a major world power and the tremendous economic growths witnessed by countries such as China, India and Brazil, the political power structures within and outside the transatlantic relations have gradually undergone shifts that are important to recognise, understand and critically assess on a consistent basis. Transatlantic Relations and Modern Diplomacy assesses the strengths and weaknesses of this enduring transatlantic relationship from multiple perspectives and disciplines at a time when the US and European countri...
Violence is terror and terror is violence. Liberators, freedom fighters, revolutionaries and terr... more Violence is terror and terror is violence. Liberators, freedom fighters, revolutionaries and terrorists have all become labels of convenience. Terrorism, historically, has been institutionalized by some governments to their advantage. Academicians and politicians fail to agree on the issues surrounding terrorism hence defining terrorism has become an academic puzzle. The ambiguity in its definition has also contributed to lack of any universal comprehensive acceptable theory. The literature on terrorism by and large accused weaker nations of supporting terrorism. This paper argues otherwise by using the African experience, slavery and colonization, to question the literature on terrorism. Nations throughout history have used terrorism as a pretext to expand their military atrocities when they cannot achieve their political goals diplomatically. This article concludes that the developed countries use terrorism as a tool for economic development as they occupy and control the resources of the less developed countries. In short, when it comes to terrorism all nations are guilty and the need for global solution must be paramount. 1 Introduction When we talk about terrorism, what exactly are we talking about? Is politically motivated violence terrorism? Can governments also be terrorists? 2 Many define terrorism in ways suggesting that "state terrorism" is something that needs to be distinguished from terrorism proper 3. Others disagree as to whether terrorism necessarily produces extreme fear or anxiety among some audience 4. So, under what conditions, if any, may we ascribe legitimacy to terrorist acts?
Violence is terror and terror is violence. Liberators, freedom fighters, revolutionaries and terr... more Violence is terror and terror is violence. Liberators, freedom fighters, revolutionaries and terrorists have all become labels of convenience. Terrorism, historically, has been institutionalized by some governments to their advantage. Academicians and politicians fail to agree on the issues surrounding terrorism hence defining terrorism has become an academic puzzle. The ambiguity in its definition has also contributed to lack of any universal comprehensive acceptable theory. The literature on terrorism by and large accused weaker nations of supporting terrorism. This paper argues otherwise by using the African experience, slavery and colonization, to question the literature on terrorism. Nations throughout history have used terrorism as a pretext to expand their military atrocities when they cannot achieve their political goals diplomatically. This article concludes that the developed countries use terrorism as a tool for economic development as they occupy and control the resources of the less developed countries. In short, when it comes to terrorism all nations are guilty and the need for global solution must be paramount. 1 Introduction When we talk about terrorism, what exactly are we talking about? Is politically motivated violence terrorism? Can governments also be terrorists? 2 Many define terrorism in ways suggesting that "state terrorism" is something that needs to be distinguished from terrorism proper 3. Others disagree as to whether terrorism necessarily produces extreme fear or anxiety among some audience 4. So, under what conditions, if any, may we ascribe legitimacy to terrorist acts?
Researchers have recently taken an interest in the accumulation and use of fund balances by local... more Researchers have recently taken an interest in the accumulation and use of fund balances by local governments. Nevertheless, there is no consensus on the ideal percentage of savings governments should maintain to deal with unforeseen circumstances, and indeed little is known about the level of savings set aside by local governments. This situation raises questions about ethical and financial management practices of officials. This article discusses budgetary transparency through the lenses of utilitarian and Kantian ethical perspectives and examines three case studies that highlight the financial and political risks associated with the lack of transparency and the misuse of funds. Keywords fund balance, financial management, transparency, ethics The governmental practice of maintaining reserve funds is not a new phe-nomenon. Aronson (1968) noted idle cash balances of state and local govern-ments and drew attention to large amounts of interest income foregone due to
International social science review, 2018
International social science review, 2017
Public administration as an art is defined in the Ghanaian context regarding decentralization and... more Public administration as an art is defined in the Ghanaian context regarding decentralization and public officials ’ accountability. It examines decentralization, local elections and empowerment. While the paper advocates for regional and district level elections, it uses the literature to argue that local representatives are more accessible to their locals. It questions the current appointment practices by the central government, which has become more partisan than originally intended in the Local Government Act. To affirm the democratic environment of politics in Ghana, it calls for constitutional amendment regarding decentralization and local government elections.
Journal of African Studies, 2015
There are some disagreements between academics and practitioners on how to improve the performanc... more There are some disagreements between academics and practitioners on how to improve the performance of government officials in Ghana. While academics advocate for reforms in governance through education and training, practitioners may have differing interests and expectations. Such impasse has contributed to the lack of a unified framework of concepts in nation building. Core concepts for training public managers for good governance have fragmented within public administration, public policy, and public management. However, there is hope that pre-service and in-service training and education may provide opportunities to implement reforms through human development. There should be a closer dialogue among all schools of thought based on a generally agreed paradigm for effective governance through education and training. This article looks at education and training of public officials through the lens of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). It uses meta-a...
College student journal, 2004
The purpose of this study was to survey African American College students' perceptions of rac... more The purpose of this study was to survey African American College students' perceptions of racial preferences and Affirmative Action in making admission decisions at a predominantly White university. 422 questionnaires were sent out to African American College students at a large, urban, public, comprehensive research university in the southern region of the United States. 400 questionnaires were completed for a response rate of 95%. The data revealed that a majority of the respondents felt race preferences should be used in making admission decisions at predominantly White colleges and universities. More significantly, all the respondents agreed that Affirmative Action and not a lower grade point should be used as part of university admissions decisions. Introduction Affirmative Action is a phrase that has its roots in centuries of old English administrative practice to ensure justice for all (Skrentny, 1996). According to Skrentny, the English (British) administration, as the k...
International social science review, 2012
Midgley, James, and David Piachaud, eds., Colonialism and Welfare: SocialPolicy and the British I... more Midgley, James, and David Piachaud, eds., Colonialism and Welfare: SocialPolicy and the British Imperial Legacy. Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011. xii + 211 pages. Cloth, $110.00. Despite changes in the international system, the fundamental historical pattern has stayed consistent during the colonial and post-colonial world. Colonization is defined differently to reflect the type of foreign power that was imposed on weaker societies. However, colonialism is said to be a policy or power, which the powerful exert on weak or indigenous societies. Colonizers tended to shape the way of life of the oppressed, including their institutions, language, and religion. Their power and policies were discriminatory, abusive, and challenging for the colonized societies. The rules of the colonizers designed in their "home country" were imposed upon and adopted by the indigenous societies, which were forced to accept those rules and administrative structures as if they were or...
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Papers by Kwame Antwi-Boasiako