Sewordor Toklo | University of Alberta (original) (raw)

Papers by Sewordor Toklo

Aziâ i Afrika segodnâ, 2022

Many developing countries suffer high levels of corruption, which contributes to the divergence i... more Many developing countries suffer high levels of corruption, which contributes to the divergence in economic development between more developed and developing countries. Corruption perceptions play a key role in forming a culture that is more or less tolerant of corruption, which contributes to its persistence. Individuals who have high perception of corruption believe that bribes must be paid. Customers will be more likely to accept a bribe if they believe many people pay bribes. The importance of this research is that it contributes to the micro-level research tradition by providing a deeper understanding of the factors that influence corruption perception. What factors influence the perception of corruption? I conducted an empirical analysis using 2017 Afrobarometer survey data, focusing on 34 democratic African countries. The study finds that those who are relatively poor are more likely to have a high perception of corruption and develop an unfavorable view of corruption than those with high income. The study also provides the potential mechanisms involved in the perception of corruption, finding that individuals with high access to information through the media, and higher education have a higher perception of corruption.

Asia and Africa Today

Many developing countries suffer high levels of corruption, which contributes to the divergence i... more Many developing countries suffer high levels of corruption, which contributes to the divergence in economic development between more developed and developing countries. Corruption perceptions play a key role in forming a culture that is more or less tolerant of corruption, which contributes to its persistence. Individuals who have high perception of corruption believe that bribes must be paid. Customers will be more likely to accept a bribe if they believe many people pay bribes. The importance of this research is that it contributes to the micro-level research tradition by providing a deeper understanding of the factors that influence corruption perception. What factors influence the perception of corruption? I conducted an empirical analysis using 2017 Afrobarometer survey data, focusing on 34 democratic African countries. The study finds that those who are relatively poor are more likely to have a high perception of corruption and develop an unfavorable view of corruption than th...

London School of Economics and Political Science, Jun 8, 2021

In The Moral Economy of Elections in Africa: Democracy, Voting and Virtue, Nic Cheeseman, Gabriel... more In The Moral Economy of Elections in Africa: Democracy, Voting and Virtue, Nic Cheeseman, Gabrielle Lynch and Justin Willis explore moral claim-making in elections in Africa, focusing on the electoral history and experiences of Ghana, Uganda and Kenya. This book offers a new way of thinking about election studies in Africa and will guide researchers in understanding the complexities of political subjectivities and how claims of virtue shape political behaviour, finds Sewordor Toklo.

Original Research Article Media and news agencies in general shapes public opinion. This study ar... more Original Research Article Media and news agencies in general shapes public opinion. This study argued that there would be a shift to less favorable opinion about migration in the newspaper in 2015 than in 2018. This is largely due to the increasing rate of terrorist attacks that occurred within the periods under study. To prove the argument for this study, content analysis was used to analyse newspapers in five different European countriesGermany, Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden and France. It was evident in the study that, different attitudes by the countries were developed in dealing with the issues of migrations. Nonetheless, there was a general shift in the focus of coverage across Europe showing similarities across the cases studied.

Journal of Global South Studies , 2024

This article contributes to the literature on democracy in Africa, using the concept of "corrupti... more This article contributes to the literature on democracy in Africa, using the concept of "corruption tolerance" to understand the citizenry's support for democracy. Using data from rounds 3 and 7 of the Afrobarometer in eighteen and thirty-four African countries, respectively, the study contends that those who are used to solving problems through corruption believe they are effective within the current system and that strengthening democratic institutions can shut down the channels through which corrupt people pursue their interests. Therefore, people's tolerance for corruption is expected to decrease their support for democracy. Empirical models consistently confirm this expectation, highlighting the role of "corruption tolerance" in explaining African citizens' lack of support for democracy and democratization. This sheds light on the perspective of African studies.

Вестник Пермского университета. Политология

Scholars have previously examined the relationship between corruption and political participation... more Scholars have previously examined the relationship between corruption and political participation with mixed results. However, some citizens are aware of corruption but choose to tolerate it. How does this tolerance for corruption influence citizens' political conduct? This research contributes to the literature by examining whether citizens' tolerance for corruption affects their participation in political activities, particularly on voter turnout and protest. The study uses regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between corruption tolerance and these two indicators of political participation. Using round 3 of the Afrobarometer data for 18 Sub-Saharan African countries, I hypothesize that individuals' tolerance of corruption decreases their willingness to vote in elections and participate in protests. The findings corroborate this expectation and demonstrate substantial robustness to various model specifications

Scholars have previously examined the relationship between corruption and political participation... more Scholars have previously examined the relationship between corruption and political participation with mixed results. However, some citizens are aware of corruption but choose to tolerate it. How does this tolerance for corruption influence citizens' political conduct? This research contributes to the literature by examining whether citizens' tolerance for corruption affects their participation in political activities, particularly on voter turnout and protest. The study uses regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between corruption tolerance and these two indicators of political participation. Using round 3 of the Afrobarometer data for 18 Sub-Saharan African countries, I hypothesize that individuals' tolerance of corruption decreases their willingness to vote in elections and participate in protests. The findings corroborate this expectation and demonstrate substantial robustness to various model specifications.

Original Research Article Since the emergence of constitutional governance in the fourth Republic... more Original Research Article Since the emergence of constitutional governance in the fourth Republic, Ghana has undergone several elections successfully with peaceful political turnovers. Each sitting president for the past years has served two successful terms of office. However, in the 2016 general election, the incumbent president suffered a huge defeat to the main opposition party in an attempt to seek for reelection. The results through the use of expert interview and content analysis showed that poor performance of the incumbent government especially with regards to economic issues may be the main reasons for the outcome whiles ethnicity played little roles in relative terms.

DOI: 10.21276/sjahss.2018.6.10.15 Abstract: The participation of citizens in governance is crucia... more DOI: 10.21276/sjahss.2018.6.10.15 Abstract: The participation of citizens in governance is crucial to the development of every democratic society. Several scholars have worked on the various factors that influence voter preference in elections. However, only a few actually explore on the factors that influence voters’ choice of candidate in local elections. This research sought to establish the preponderate factor that influences the decision for voters to elect or kick out public officials at the local level. The study also explains the why question on the election of a candidate to a local public office. In achieving these objectives, the research applied theoretical contestations to build different understanding. It also used Ejisu Juaben Municipality in Ghana as the configurative case study. From the research analysis, it was realized that the leading factor in the local level election in Ghana since 2015 is within the justification framework of the rational choice model where p...

Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 2019

Media and news agencies in general shapes public opinion. This study argued that there would be a... more Media and news agencies in general shapes public opinion. This study argued that there would be a shift to less
favorable opinion about migration in the newspaper in 2015 than in 2018. This is largely due to the increasing rate of
terrorist attacks that occurred within the periods under study. To prove the argument for this study, content analysis
was used to analyse newspapers in five different European countries- Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden and
France. It was evident in the study that, different attitudes by the countries were developed in dealing with the issues
of migrations. Nonetheless, there was a general shift in the focus of coverage across Europe showing similarities
across the cases studied.
Keywords: Migration, Humanitarian concern, Border Control, European Countries, Media, Terrorism, Migration
Crisis, Newspapers, Immigration.

Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 2019

Since the emergence of constitutional governance in the fourth Republic, Ghana has undergone seve... more Since the emergence of constitutional governance in the fourth Republic, Ghana has undergone several elections
successfully with peaceful political turnovers. Each sitting president for the past years has served two successful terms
of office. However, in the 2016 general election, the incumbent president suffered a huge defeat to the main opposition
party in an attempt to seek for reelection. The results through the use of expert interview and content analysis showed
that poor performance of the incumbent government especially with regards to economic issues may be the main
reasons for the outcome whiles ethnicity played little roles in relative terms.
Keywords: Election outcome, incumbent losses, performance, political parties, Ghana, government, voters

Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 2018

The participation of citizens in governance is crucial to the development of every democratic soc... more The participation of citizens in governance is crucial to the development of every democratic society. Several scholars have worked on the various factors that influence voter preference in elections. However, only a few actually explore on the factors that influence voters’ choice of candidate in local elections. This research sought to establish the preponderate factor that influences the decision for voters to elect or kick out public officials at the local level. The study also explains the why question on the election of a candidate to a local public office. In achieving these objectives, the research applied theoretical contestations to build different understanding. It also used Ejisu Juaben Municipality in Ghana as the configurative case study. From the research analysis, it was realized that the leading factor in the local level election in Ghana since 2015 is within the justification framework of the rational choice model where priority is given to the examination of candidate’s policies by voters. It was further revealed that voters understand the concept of the social contract which gives them the constitutional backing to demand accountability when needed. Voters further use elections as an avenue to reward or punish public officeholders for their service at the district and constituency level. The study opined and encourage Assembly Members to commence taking members of their electoral areas serious by formulating sound and feasible policies since electorates are likely to vote for candidates who appreciate the public good.

Aziâ i Afrika segodnâ, 2022

Many developing countries suffer high levels of corruption, which contributes to the divergence i... more Many developing countries suffer high levels of corruption, which contributes to the divergence in economic development between more developed and developing countries. Corruption perceptions play a key role in forming a culture that is more or less tolerant of corruption, which contributes to its persistence. Individuals who have high perception of corruption believe that bribes must be paid. Customers will be more likely to accept a bribe if they believe many people pay bribes. The importance of this research is that it contributes to the micro-level research tradition by providing a deeper understanding of the factors that influence corruption perception. What factors influence the perception of corruption? I conducted an empirical analysis using 2017 Afrobarometer survey data, focusing on 34 democratic African countries. The study finds that those who are relatively poor are more likely to have a high perception of corruption and develop an unfavorable view of corruption than those with high income. The study also provides the potential mechanisms involved in the perception of corruption, finding that individuals with high access to information through the media, and higher education have a higher perception of corruption.

Asia and Africa Today

Many developing countries suffer high levels of corruption, which contributes to the divergence i... more Many developing countries suffer high levels of corruption, which contributes to the divergence in economic development between more developed and developing countries. Corruption perceptions play a key role in forming a culture that is more or less tolerant of corruption, which contributes to its persistence. Individuals who have high perception of corruption believe that bribes must be paid. Customers will be more likely to accept a bribe if they believe many people pay bribes. The importance of this research is that it contributes to the micro-level research tradition by providing a deeper understanding of the factors that influence corruption perception. What factors influence the perception of corruption? I conducted an empirical analysis using 2017 Afrobarometer survey data, focusing on 34 democratic African countries. The study finds that those who are relatively poor are more likely to have a high perception of corruption and develop an unfavorable view of corruption than th...

London School of Economics and Political Science, Jun 8, 2021

In The Moral Economy of Elections in Africa: Democracy, Voting and Virtue, Nic Cheeseman, Gabriel... more In The Moral Economy of Elections in Africa: Democracy, Voting and Virtue, Nic Cheeseman, Gabrielle Lynch and Justin Willis explore moral claim-making in elections in Africa, focusing on the electoral history and experiences of Ghana, Uganda and Kenya. This book offers a new way of thinking about election studies in Africa and will guide researchers in understanding the complexities of political subjectivities and how claims of virtue shape political behaviour, finds Sewordor Toklo.

Original Research Article Media and news agencies in general shapes public opinion. This study ar... more Original Research Article Media and news agencies in general shapes public opinion. This study argued that there would be a shift to less favorable opinion about migration in the newspaper in 2015 than in 2018. This is largely due to the increasing rate of terrorist attacks that occurred within the periods under study. To prove the argument for this study, content analysis was used to analyse newspapers in five different European countriesGermany, Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden and France. It was evident in the study that, different attitudes by the countries were developed in dealing with the issues of migrations. Nonetheless, there was a general shift in the focus of coverage across Europe showing similarities across the cases studied.

Journal of Global South Studies , 2024

This article contributes to the literature on democracy in Africa, using the concept of "corrupti... more This article contributes to the literature on democracy in Africa, using the concept of "corruption tolerance" to understand the citizenry's support for democracy. Using data from rounds 3 and 7 of the Afrobarometer in eighteen and thirty-four African countries, respectively, the study contends that those who are used to solving problems through corruption believe they are effective within the current system and that strengthening democratic institutions can shut down the channels through which corrupt people pursue their interests. Therefore, people's tolerance for corruption is expected to decrease their support for democracy. Empirical models consistently confirm this expectation, highlighting the role of "corruption tolerance" in explaining African citizens' lack of support for democracy and democratization. This sheds light on the perspective of African studies.

Вестник Пермского университета. Политология

Scholars have previously examined the relationship between corruption and political participation... more Scholars have previously examined the relationship between corruption and political participation with mixed results. However, some citizens are aware of corruption but choose to tolerate it. How does this tolerance for corruption influence citizens' political conduct? This research contributes to the literature by examining whether citizens' tolerance for corruption affects their participation in political activities, particularly on voter turnout and protest. The study uses regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between corruption tolerance and these two indicators of political participation. Using round 3 of the Afrobarometer data for 18 Sub-Saharan African countries, I hypothesize that individuals' tolerance of corruption decreases their willingness to vote in elections and participate in protests. The findings corroborate this expectation and demonstrate substantial robustness to various model specifications

Scholars have previously examined the relationship between corruption and political participation... more Scholars have previously examined the relationship between corruption and political participation with mixed results. However, some citizens are aware of corruption but choose to tolerate it. How does this tolerance for corruption influence citizens' political conduct? This research contributes to the literature by examining whether citizens' tolerance for corruption affects their participation in political activities, particularly on voter turnout and protest. The study uses regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between corruption tolerance and these two indicators of political participation. Using round 3 of the Afrobarometer data for 18 Sub-Saharan African countries, I hypothesize that individuals' tolerance of corruption decreases their willingness to vote in elections and participate in protests. The findings corroborate this expectation and demonstrate substantial robustness to various model specifications.

Original Research Article Since the emergence of constitutional governance in the fourth Republic... more Original Research Article Since the emergence of constitutional governance in the fourth Republic, Ghana has undergone several elections successfully with peaceful political turnovers. Each sitting president for the past years has served two successful terms of office. However, in the 2016 general election, the incumbent president suffered a huge defeat to the main opposition party in an attempt to seek for reelection. The results through the use of expert interview and content analysis showed that poor performance of the incumbent government especially with regards to economic issues may be the main reasons for the outcome whiles ethnicity played little roles in relative terms.

DOI: 10.21276/sjahss.2018.6.10.15 Abstract: The participation of citizens in governance is crucia... more DOI: 10.21276/sjahss.2018.6.10.15 Abstract: The participation of citizens in governance is crucial to the development of every democratic society. Several scholars have worked on the various factors that influence voter preference in elections. However, only a few actually explore on the factors that influence voters’ choice of candidate in local elections. This research sought to establish the preponderate factor that influences the decision for voters to elect or kick out public officials at the local level. The study also explains the why question on the election of a candidate to a local public office. In achieving these objectives, the research applied theoretical contestations to build different understanding. It also used Ejisu Juaben Municipality in Ghana as the configurative case study. From the research analysis, it was realized that the leading factor in the local level election in Ghana since 2015 is within the justification framework of the rational choice model where p...

Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 2019

Media and news agencies in general shapes public opinion. This study argued that there would be a... more Media and news agencies in general shapes public opinion. This study argued that there would be a shift to less
favorable opinion about migration in the newspaper in 2015 than in 2018. This is largely due to the increasing rate of
terrorist attacks that occurred within the periods under study. To prove the argument for this study, content analysis
was used to analyse newspapers in five different European countries- Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden and
France. It was evident in the study that, different attitudes by the countries were developed in dealing with the issues
of migrations. Nonetheless, there was a general shift in the focus of coverage across Europe showing similarities
across the cases studied.
Keywords: Migration, Humanitarian concern, Border Control, European Countries, Media, Terrorism, Migration
Crisis, Newspapers, Immigration.

Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 2019

Since the emergence of constitutional governance in the fourth Republic, Ghana has undergone seve... more Since the emergence of constitutional governance in the fourth Republic, Ghana has undergone several elections
successfully with peaceful political turnovers. Each sitting president for the past years has served two successful terms
of office. However, in the 2016 general election, the incumbent president suffered a huge defeat to the main opposition
party in an attempt to seek for reelection. The results through the use of expert interview and content analysis showed
that poor performance of the incumbent government especially with regards to economic issues may be the main
reasons for the outcome whiles ethnicity played little roles in relative terms.
Keywords: Election outcome, incumbent losses, performance, political parties, Ghana, government, voters

Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 2018

The participation of citizens in governance is crucial to the development of every democratic soc... more The participation of citizens in governance is crucial to the development of every democratic society. Several scholars have worked on the various factors that influence voter preference in elections. However, only a few actually explore on the factors that influence voters’ choice of candidate in local elections. This research sought to establish the preponderate factor that influences the decision for voters to elect or kick out public officials at the local level. The study also explains the why question on the election of a candidate to a local public office. In achieving these objectives, the research applied theoretical contestations to build different understanding. It also used Ejisu Juaben Municipality in Ghana as the configurative case study. From the research analysis, it was realized that the leading factor in the local level election in Ghana since 2015 is within the justification framework of the rational choice model where priority is given to the examination of candidate’s policies by voters. It was further revealed that voters understand the concept of the social contract which gives them the constitutional backing to demand accountability when needed. Voters further use elections as an avenue to reward or punish public officeholders for their service at the district and constituency level. The study opined and encourage Assembly Members to commence taking members of their electoral areas serious by formulating sound and feasible policies since electorates are likely to vote for candidates who appreciate the public good.