Lecture

Reimagining Civil Society in Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities for Action

Date
Mon April 20th 2015, 12:00pm
Event Sponsor
This series is sponsored by the Stanford Initiative For Religious and Ethnic Understanding and Coexistence, supported by the President’s Fund, CCSRE, Religious Studies, and the Taube Center for Jewish Studies. It is co-sponsored by the Center for African Studies, the WSD HANDA Center for Human Rights & International Justice, Stanford Global Studies, the Stanford Forum for African Studies, the Stanford African Student Association, and the Haas Center for Public Service, and Stanford in Government.
Location
Reuben W. Hills Conference Room, Encina Hall East, 616 Serra Street
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Reimagining Civil Society in Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities for Action

African civil society is grappling with the stagnation of democratization after the highs of the Arab Spring and the crackdowns in its aftermath. Many governments, including several in sub-Saharan Africa, have retreated to repressive laws, big security budgets and expensive patronage that is straining resources and, in some instances, reigniting tensions between communities. More than dealing with bad governance as usual, African civil society is challenged to find new ways to protect the most vulnerable groups. Renowned Ugandan lawyer Nicholas Opiyo, celebrated anti-corruption activist John Githongo, and distinguished scholar of democracy, Larry Diamond, unpack the tool kit for civil society actors to find new ways to confront old dangers to minorities in sub-Saharan Africa.

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