Political Inclusion Research Articles

An Investigation on Livelihood Status of Tea Workers at Doldoli Tea Garden, Sylhet

Doldoli Tea Garden is situated in Sylhet Sadar Upazila of the Sylhet district and is one of the 163 tea gardens in Bangladesh. The purpose of the study was to investigate the livelihood status of tea workers at Doldoli. A field survey was conducted and 60 tea workers were chosen randomly. The study revealed almost half of the workers had no formal education (48.3% %). Regarding monthly income, 55% of workers earn only 4500-5500 Taka. Most of the workers gave positive attitudes toward getting living facilities like electricity, sanitation, medical care, and hygiene maintenance. Though most workers have job security they don’t have bank deposits (80%). A low percentage (only 40%) of workers know human rights. Maximum workers (70%) agreed that trade union is not playing their role properly. About 86.7% of the workers have no inclusion in politics. Homestead practices and livestock farming are done by workers for both family and selling purposes but to a lesser extent. The study revealed that low wages are the main problem of the workers (30% agreed) and the possible solution given by most of the workers was increasing the wages which was 36%. For elevating socioeconomic standards, tea garden workers’ daily wages should be prioritized appropriately. The study's findings can assist in understanding and improving the livelihood of the Doldoli tea workers through policy recommendations for government and stakeholders, and approaches aimed at promoting labor rights, education, health, and overall well-being.

Political Choices of Muhammadiyah Citizens as a Muslim Minority in the 2018 Bali Governor Election in Indonesia

Purpose: the primary aim of this study is to explore how the Muhammadiyah community in Bali, a minority Muslim group, engaged in the 2018 Bali gubernatorial election to assert and navigate their political identity. This research seeks to understand the impact of their political participation within the broader dynamics of identity politics in a predominantly non-Muslim setting. Theoretical Reference: the study is framed within theories of political identity and political communication, which provide insights into how identities are formed, communicated, and leveraged in political contexts. These theories help elucidate the complex interactions between minority groups and the political environment, particularly in areas where identity politics play a significant role. Method: A qualitative descriptive approach was employed to capture the political preferences and behaviors of Muhammadiyah members during the 2018 gubernatorial election. Data was gathered through interviews, focus groups, and analysis of campaign materials and public statements. This method enabled a detailed and nuanced understanding of the Muhammadiyah community's political engagement. Results and Conclusion: the findings indicate that Muhammadiyah members actively participated in the election, using it as a platform to advocate for their political and social interests. Their engagement was shaped by their minority status and the need to assert their identity in a socio-political landscape dominated by different religious and cultural norms. The election outcomes revealed both the challenges and opportunities faced by Muhammadiyah in navigating identity politics in Bali. Implications of Research: this study highlights the critical role of minority religious communities in shaping political landscapes, even in regions where they do not form the majority. Understanding these dynamics is essential for policymakers, political leaders, and civil society organizations that aim to foster inclusive political processes. It also underscores the importance of effective political communication strategies that cater to diverse communities. Originality/Value: this research contributes to the limited literature on the political behavior of Islamic organizations like Muhammadiyah in regional politics, particularly within non-Muslim majority regions. It offers a unique insight into how identity politics and minority status influence political engagement and communication, adding depth to the discussions on multiculturalism and political inclusion in Southeast Asia.

Working Mothers and Political Daughters: Intergenerational Dynamics of Women's Political Officeholding

Abstract We study a new driving factor of women's inclusion in politics: the economic empowerment of their mothers. We evaluate Swedish microdata on politicians and their parents over fifty years. The results demonstrate a strong intergenerational dynamic from mothers to daughters. Female politicians come from households where their mother is more likely to be employed, earns more in the labour market, and earns a larger share of household earnings. This pattern was strong among parliamentarians in the 1970s and 1980s when female numerical representation increased rapidly in Sweden but is not present in national politics after the introduction of gender quotas in the early 1990s or in local politics.

Securing the peace or renegotiating the political settlement? Understanding popular support for post-conflict constitutions

ABSTRACT How do ordinary citizens view elite-driven, post-conflict constitutional reforms? Established theories emphasize the role of constitutional reform in both postwar democratization and preventing conflict resurgence. This article contends that emphasis on fostering political inclusion and settling conflicts resonates differently across post-conflict societies. Focusing on Nepal, this study draws on a survey implemented with over 1,000 respondents shortly after the ratification of the country’s constitution in 2015. The exploratory analysis shows that even when post-conflict constitutions grant greater rights to historically marginalized groups in absolute terms, they may still perceive that greater concessions would be possible; this makes such groups more likely to oppose the constitution and more likely to prefer extended negotiation periods. Conversely, Nepalis exposed to higher violence during the Maoist insurgency from 1996 to 2006 view the constitution as the conclusion of the peace process and are more supportive of the constitution and opposed to longer negotiation periods. The analysis further highlights that some excluded groups were less likely to learn about constitutional negotiations at all. We identify new pathways influencing the democratic legitimacy of post-conflict constitutions, offering insights for internal and external stakeholders involved in constitutional reform processes and their aftermath.

Can we do inclusive politics in urgent times?

In times of crisis it is even more important to ensure that political decisions have broad, popular and trusted support from a wide range of people than in normal, non-crisis times. We argue that the best way to achieve this is through the use of deliberative mini-publics, as leaving a crisis response only to our political leaders presents them with almost irresistible opportunities for the arrogation of power, possible corruption, and the use (or abuse) of emergency measures for partisan political point scoring. Having demonstrated the theoretical basis for our argument, which builds on the foundation of deliberative democratic theory, we then address the practical aspects of using informed deliberation within a mini-public during a crisis, when efficacy and speed are the most urgent and challenging aspects of decision making. The obvious solution, to us, is to institutionalize deliberative mini-publics in our democratic structures so that they are ready and able to rapidly address any crisis as it arises.

Voice Through Votes and Remittances: Diaspora Efforts to Influence Elections

The increasing political inclusion of diaspora populations around the world has raised questions about their influence on electoral outcomes back home. In Kenya, emigrants have advocated for direct influence through external voting rights, while less attention has been given to the ways in which they may also indirectly influence elections through economic remittances. In this research note, we explore diaspora efforts to influence elections through the perspectives of domestic voters, which are often overlooked in the literature on diaspora voting. We surveyed a nationally representative sample of eligible voters within Kenya prior to the August 2022 presidential election and posed parallel questions to a smaller sample of diaspora Kenyans. Domestic voters strongly support direct diaspora participation in elections for president, but not for lower-level offices. Our survey results also indicate that roughly one of every seven eligible voters in Kenya was encouraged to vote in the 2022 election by friends and family abroad from whom they receive remittances. Thus, emigrants may have more influence on elections through their connections at home than through their direct votes. Drawing on the Kenyan case, we explore some directions for future research on transnational citizenship and voting rights.

“I Am Unhide-able”: Conditions of Visibility in The Poet X

Abstract Within Latinx literary studies, young adult literature remains on the margins of scholarship. Yet if the overwhelming popularity of Elizabeth Acevedo’s award-winning novel-in-verse, The Poet X (2018), is any indication, then the genre of Latinx young adult literature offers important insights into contemporary Latinx literatures and cultures. This article argues that The Poet X leverages its multimodal qualities to deconstruct the hierarchies of knowledge that render Afro-Latinx subjects, especially young women, both invisible and hypervisible. As slam poetry allows Xiomara, the fifteen-year-old protagonist, to alter these conditions of visibility in her coming-of-age narrative, Acevedo’s book about the medium—a novel of page poems that are the textual source of performance poems housed online—also manifests social change, for Acevedo’s book has helped to shift Latinx young adult literature into a politics of inclusion and a register of empowerment. By centering a young, Dominican, Afro-Latina woman, The Poet X resists the homogenization of Latinidad by turning to slam poetry as a creative outlet of self-reclamation. Drawing from Diana Taylor’s The Archive and the Repertoire: Performing Cultural Memory in the Americas (2003), the article contends that the literary and performatic qualities of the poems in the text demonstrate why Latinx young adult literature is crucial to Latinx literary studies more broadly. Ultimately, Acevedo’s multimodal poetic project extends its account of Xiomara’s slam experience to uphold Afro-Latinx youth, and Afro-Latinx girls especially, as creators of worlds and makers of knowledge that disrupts traditional constructions of Latinidad.

‘Too many assumptions’: cultural diversity and the politics of inclusion in sexuality education

ABSTRACT For more than a decade, the international and national literature has established that sexuality education does not adequately speak to the broad range of cultural and religious diversities present in classrooms. These persistent obfuscations speak to long-standing questions around normativity, Othering and ‘inclusion’. In this paper, we turn to a recent project that asked young people from a broad range of cultural and religious backgrounds to reflect on their experience of sexuality education. Across a fascinating set of observations, the participants argued that sexuality education rests on ‘too many assumptions’, a range of assumptions that continue to mark them as Other in the classroom. More importantly, they identified a tricky problematic – on the one hand, they want more diversity represented, along with opportunities to explore their views and perspectives. One the other hand, they felt unsure about how this could occur in a safe way, without making them feel ‘on display’, misunderstood, or judged. In the face of this tricky problem, we present a series of insights not only for Australian educators, but for countries across the globe who face similar problems resulting from the obfuscations of largely normative sexuality education frameworks.

Hacking Diversity: The Politics of Inclusion in Open Technology Cultures by Christina Dunbar-Hester (review)

Hacking Diversity: The Politics of Inclusion in Open Technology Cultures by Christina Dunbar-Hester (review)

Differentiation, Affected Temporalities and the Politics of Inclusion and Exclusion of the Border Regime

ABSTRACT This article addresses the question of how differentiation functions as a fundamental criterion for the global border regime. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork in Finland and Mexico, we show how differentiation is instrumentalized by states and enables a complicated process of inclusion and exclusion that in some cases continues even after migration ends. We argue that differentiation is a precondition of the border regime, influencing the entire temporal experience of migration and its consequences and creating a persistent hierarchization of different social groups. As such, it sustains a variety of practices of border control and has a direct impact on the experiences and temporalities in the context of human mobility. In the analysis, attention is paid to how criteria such as racialization and country of origin are enforced and impact temporalities. In the case of our participants, differentiation relates to personal and social uncertainty at different stages and a contradictory sense of belonging.

Resisting change: Explaining education policy reforms in Ghana

AbstractThis article examines the complexities surrounding the implementation of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) within Ghana's basic education system, exploring the intersection of religious, cultural, and political factors. Introducing CSE has sparked significant public discourse and resistance in Ghana, where religious and cultural beliefs are deeply ingrained and often institutionalized in politics. The study utilizes punctuated equilibrium theory to understand the sustained opposition to CSE policy changes. It examines the historical progression of Ghana's educational reforms, highlighting the struggle to maintain cultural and religious values while promoting human rights and gender equality. The contribution of this study is its exploration of the political institutionalization of religion in Ghana, investigating the combined impact of religious bodies, political entities, and civil organizations in shaping public opinion on education policy reform. It further underscores the intricate task of navigating socio‐cultural beliefs and human rights in policy‐making processes.Related ArticlesBingham, Natasha. 2016. “Fighting for Our Cause: The Impact of Women's NGOs on Gender Policy Adoption in Four Former Soviet Republics.” Politics & Policy 44(2): 294–318. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12155.Holst, Cathrine, and Mari Teigen. 2024. “The ‘Boy Problem’ in Public Policy.” Politics & Policy 52(1): 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12570.Nchofoung, Tii, Simplice Asongu, Vanessa Tchamyou, and Ofeh Edoh. 2022. “Gender, Political Inclusion, and Democracy in Africa: Some Empirical Evidence.” Politics & Policy 51(1): 137–55. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12505.

An unfinished suffrage reform. Voting rights in Sweden after the ‘democratic breakthrough’

ABSTRACT This article examines the complex and non-linear process of democratization in Sweden after the introduction of so-called universal suffrage in 1921. The research questions address the excluded groups post-1921, the reasons for their exclusion, and the historical processes that led to further expansions of suffrage rights. The study shows that the expansion of suffrage rights in Sweden after 1921 was not guided primarily by a desire to broaden voter inclusion and/or rectify the limitations of the 1921 legislation. Instead, the motivations were embedded in a more intricate and multifaceted tapestry of political aims and alliances as well as situational factors that included various social, economic, and cultural shifts. The article concludes that the history of suffrage in Sweden after 1921 has been one of continuous negotiations, transformations, and adaptations, and that this provides valuable insights for addressing challenges of political inclusion and representation in the present and future.

DHR‐PA—Democracy and human rights in public administration in Africa

AbstractWhile public administration research has traditionally paid profound attention to democratic values in government‐citizen relations, public institutions are still wrestling with entrenching human rights norms today. This article's Democracy and Human Rights in Public Administration (DHR‐PA) perspective offers a view that a human rights‐anchored reforms agenda may assist with setting the much‐needed tone for realizing democratic norms in African administrative contexts where society is still dealing with extreme forms of human rights abuses. It operationalizes institutional nuances and qualities of democratic and human rights values using Afrobarometer's Round 9 dataset for Namibia, Kenya, and Nigeria. Results show that human rights proclivities of African public administration remain subtle and nebulous despite more targeted DHR‐PA reforms and the creation of institutions like human rights commissions and administrative justice agencies. Overall, for democracy to work, African public administration must acquire and entrench human rights norms and values in its engagements with citizens.Related ArticlesKahn‐Nisser, Sara. 2018. “Constructive Criticism: Shaming, Incentives, and Human Rights Reforms.” Politics & Policy 46(1): 58–83. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12240.Zavala de Alba, Luis Eduardo. 2012. “Toward an International Implementation of Public Policies in Human Rights: A Necessary Step in Every Democratization Process for Advancements in Economic and Social Rights.” Politics & Policy 40(5): 783–801. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2012.00385.x.Nchofoung, Tii, Simplice Asongu, Vanessa Tchamyou, and Ofeh Edoh. 2022. “Gender, Political Inclusion, and Democracy in Africa: Some Empirical Evidence.” Politics & Policy 51(1): 137–55. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12505.

Discrimination and social identity: interrogating the impact of local lingua francas on inclusion politics in public institutions in Nigeria

AbstractThis study is concerned with addressing discrimination in public spaces and interrogates the extent to which the social identity function of a local lingua franca impacted inclusion politics in leadership selections for public institutions in Africa. Guided by social identity and ethnolinguistic identity theories, selecting Ahmadu Bello University in Northern Nigeria as a case study, and using the qualitative research technique, this study found a three-level ethno-religious discriminatory categorization – Core Northerners, Peripheral Northerners and Non-Northerners – accommodated within the institution’s power hierarchy. Fluency in Hausa, the local lingua franca in Northern Nigeria, was the common factor. Although the language was not a requirement for appointment, it turned out to be the marker of social identity that positively impacted inclusion politics. With extensive linguistic acculturation, African nation states are better off investing in the propagation of the local lingua franca to address negative discrimination in public spaces.

Women's empowerment in African societies: Strategies and lessons for U. S. social policy

This scholarly investigation delves into the realm of women's empowerment in African societies, aiming to extract pivotal strategies and lessons to inform and enhance U.S. social policy. The study is anchored in the objective of dissecting the multifaceted concept of women's empowerment within a global context, with a particular focus on the unique dynamics present in African societies. It seeks to understand how these insights can be effectively transposed to the U.S. policy landscape, thereby enriching and diversifying approaches to gender equality and empowerment. Employing a rigorous methodology, the study conducted an extensive literature review and thematic analysis, focusing on peer-reviewed articles that shed light on the intricacies of women's empowerment in African contexts. This approach facilitated a comprehensive understanding of the subject, ensuring the relevance and quality of the sources. The study's methodology was characterized by a systematic search strategy, stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria, and a nuanced thematic analysis of empowerment strategies. The key findings reveal education, economic participation, and political inclusion as critical strategies for women's empowerment, proven effective in African contexts. These strategies, along with the identification of significant research gaps, particularly in understanding cultural influences on empowerment, form the cornerstone of the study's contributions. Conclusively, the study advocates for a holistic, culturally sensitive approach to women's empowerment in U.S. social policy, drawing inspiration from the resilience and diversity of African models. The recommendations emphasize the need for inclusive, comprehensive strategies that resonate with the unique challenges and opportunities presented in different cultural contexts. This study not only fulfills its aim and objectives but also paves the way for future research and policy development, ensuring a continued and enriched journey towards gender equality and empowerment.

Epistemic territories of kawsak sacha (living forest): cosmopolitics and cosmoeducation

ABSTRACT This article aims to present the experience of Kichwa Indigenous peoples of Pastaza in Ecuador, and their agency in enforcing their rights to their ancestral cultures and lands. In their political action, they express the revitalization of their ecological and cultural knowledge as conditional to the protection of their territorial integrity. Including ancestral and land-based knowledge in education supports politics of inclusion, ontological recognition, and revitalization of ecological and cultural knowledge of Indigenous people. It also enforces their political legitimacy and sovereignty over their lands and conservation practices. The theme of education and power in Ecuador has been addressed within the decolonial thinking of modernity/coloniality, placing knowledge and pedagogical designs at the core of political debates between indigenous organizations and the central state. We will discuss Kichwa’s cosmology of Kawsak Sacha (living forest) and the way it inspires both territorial governance and educational practices.

BEYOND BORDERS: UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIETAL AND POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF MIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION IN INDIA

India has been a significant source of human resources for many countries. However, it has also emerged as a destination for migrants from the African continent and neighboring Asian countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, seeking education and work opportunities. However, this influx of migrants and immigrants has led to various social problems and political challenges that require urgent policy attention. Within the host country, immigrants often face unfavorable conditions, uncertainty, and instability. The social problems resulting from migration and immigration in India encompass poverty, acculturation, education, housing, employment, social adjustment, and family difficulties. These challenges demand a comprehensive understanding and effective policy measures. In addition to the social issues, immigration and migration have significant political consequences. Questions arise regarding political inclusion, political liberties, effects on political stability, and potential implications for conflicts and wars. It is essential to address these political aspects to ensure a harmonious and sustainable social and political environment. This paper delves into a thorough analysis of the social problems and political challenges arising from immigration and migration within India. It takes into account both international immigration and internal migration, providing a holistic perspective on the issue. To tackle the identified social problems and political challenges, this paper proposes policy statements that prioritize the interests of all stakeholders involved, including the host country, the country of origin, local communities, and the immigrants and migrants themselves. The aim is to foster an inclusive and cooperative approach towards addressing these issues effectively.

The effects of gender political inclusion and democracy on environmental performance: Evidence from the method of moments by quantile regression

AbstractMotivated by the difficulty of ensuring gender equality and the chaotic state of democracy, we analyze the effects of gender political inclusion and democracy on environmental policy performance. The study uses a panel of 45 African countries over the period 2012–2018 and employs the method of moments by quantile regression. The results show that gender political inclusion and democracy positively affect environmental performance in all quantiles. These positive effects tend to be stronger at higher quantiles. The magnitude is larger for gender political inclusion. When performance is decomposed into the sub‐indices of environmental health and ecosystem vitality, positive effects of gender political inclusion and democracy are observed in all quantiles. The effects are larger for the gender dimension than for the democracy dimension, regardless of the sub‐index used.Related ArticlesBingham, Natasha. 2016. “Fighting for Our Cause: The Impact of Women's NGOs on Gender Policy Adoption in Four Former Soviet Republics.” Politics & Policy 44(2): 294–318. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12155.Hankivsky, Olena. 2013. “Gender Mainstreaming: A Five‐Country Examination.” Politics & Policy 41(5): 629–55. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12037.Nchofoung, Tii, Simplice Asongu, Vanessa Tchamyou, and Ofeh Edoh. 2022. “Gender, Political Inclusion, and Democracy in Africa: Some Empirical Evidence.” Politics & Policy 51(1): 137–155. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12505.

Gender political inclusion and inclusive finance in Africa

At the 2010 G20 Summit, the use of formal financial services was recognized as one of the main pillars of the global development agenda. At the same time, the fifth goal of the Sustainable development agenda outlined the importance of gender inclusion for sustainable development. Empirical research on the effect of gender inclusion on inclusive finance has however been limited to micro level studies. This study aims to verify the effect of gender political inclusion on financial inclusion on a sample of 37 African countries from 2004–2020. The empirical methodology involves the OLS, the Tobit regression and the System GMM methodologies. The results from these methods show that gender political inclusion is enhancing on financial inclusion in Africa, and this finding is robust across alternative specifications of gender inclusion and inclusive finance. Besides, governance exhibits a positive synergy effect with gender political inclusion on inclusive finance. Policy implications are discussed.

Discourse, digitisation and women’s rights groups in Nigeria and Ghana: Online campaigns for political inclusion and against violence on women and girls

This study examines aspects of online activism by women’s rights groups in Nigeria and Ghana, especially by exploring their online campaign approaches. Applying the new social movement theories and methods in linguistic pragmatics and discourse analysis, the study examines and analyses how gender issues such as political participation and violence against women and girls are mediated discursively. The study further assesses the roles of social media in the campaign programmes of the women’s rights groups. Two groups each from Nigeria and Ghana are selected for the study. These are among the most active ones in the two countries with an efficient online presence. Findings show that the women movements adopt discourse-pragmatic acting strategies such as reporting, directing, demanding and identifying with women’s rights to seek redress to perceived gender injustice.