Marleen Renders | Ghent University (original) (raw)
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Papers by Marleen Renders
Development and Change, 2010
This article investigates the negotiation of statehood in Somaliland, a nonrecognized de facto st... more This article investigates the negotiation of statehood in Somaliland, a nonrecognized de facto state which emerged from Somalia's conflict and state collapse. The negotiation process centres on the continuing transformation of a hybrid political order, involving 'formal' as well as 'informal' spheres, both in existing institutions (as 'rules of the game') and in the bodies or agents enforcing these rules. The negotiation processes considered take place at the national and local level respectively, as well as between the two. These negotiations are heterogeneous, non-linear and ongoing. The article demonstrates how the polity's tolerance for heterogeneous negotiations and different forms of statehood allowed local political actors to establish peace in their own local settings first. Although it did not produce uniform statehood, it provided the basis for communities to explore the scope for common statehood. On the national level, hybrid elements initially allowed for a healthy adaptation of statehood to local needs, and for legitimate, productive instruments of negotiation. This responsiveness was not maintained, and current hybrid elements threaten to undermine the polity's stability. 1. This article was completed before Somaliland's presidential election, scheduled for 26 June 2010.
The Journal on Education in Emergencies (JEiE) publishes groundbreaking and outstanding scholarly... more The Journal on Education in Emergencies (JEiE) publishes groundbreaking and outstanding scholarly and practitioner work on education in emergencies (EiE), defined broadly as quality learning opportunities for all ages in situations of crisis, including early childhood development, primary, secondary, non-formal, technical, vocation, higher and adult education.
The article explores how the process of appropriating the discourse of 'development' by Muslim or... more The article explores how the process of appropriating the discourse of 'development' by Muslim organisations and 'NGOs' might be a factor in the construction of new forms/contexts of Muslim political participation in Senegal. By promoting 'Islamic development', Muslim organisations have moved into a discursive field that was previously the fief of the secular state. It is shown how the discourse of 'development' and 'Islam' and the interplay between them are functional in the context of competition and negotiation amongst political actors in Senegal. The result observed is very complex and multifaceted. By claiming 'Islamic development' and playing with the content of these two concepts according to the powerpolitical context, 'Muslim' organisations and personalities claim political space from the 'secular' state as well as from each other. The discourse of 'development' has always had a prominent place in the Senegalese polity. Development was the very raison d'etre of the postindependence governments: the Parti Socialiste, in power from 1960 until the 'elections de l'alternance' in 2000, called itself 'PS-Parti du Developpement'. As in many African states, 'development' as it was conceived by the new bureaucratic elite was essentially a top-down process. A vanguard of trained bureaucrats was to lead Senegal and its citizens to modernity and prosperity. The state ruled by these bureaucrats was of a singularly Jacobin nature and was the only legitimate agency to interpret reality and to determine future actions. Although the topdown approach became less prominent after the early 1980s because of lack of means and the subsequent austerity measures imposed by the International Monetary Fund, the bureaucratic elite seems to have tried jealously to guard its prerogative.
Belgeo, 2001
Revue belge de géographie 4 | 2001 Miscellaneous The geographical structure of capitalism at the ... more Revue belge de géographie 4 | 2001 Miscellaneous The geographical structure of capitalism at the origin of cultural protest against globalization as expressed in contemporary politics of identity De geografische structuur van het kapitalisme aan de oorsprong van het cultureel protest tegen mondialisering uitgedrukt in hedendaagse vormen van identiteitspolitiek
Africa Spectrum, 2007
Summary Can informal 'traditional' institutions help to... more Summary Can informal 'traditional' institutions help to build more legitimate, ac-countable and efficient states and governance? This article aims to con-tribute to that emerging discussion by unraveling the story of 'Somali-land', a self-declared independent republic which ...
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Development and Change, 2010
This article investigates the negotiation of statehood in Somaliland, a nonrecognized de facto st... more This article investigates the negotiation of statehood in Somaliland, a nonrecognized de facto state which emerged from Somalia's conflict and state collapse. The negotiation process centres on the continuing transformation of a hybrid political order, involving 'formal' as well as 'informal' spheres, both in existing institutions (as 'rules of the game') and in the bodies or agents enforcing these rules. The negotiation processes considered take place at the national and local level respectively, as well as between the two. These negotiations are heterogeneous, non-linear and ongoing. The article demonstrates how the polity's tolerance for heterogeneous negotiations and different forms of statehood allowed local political actors to establish peace in their own local settings first. Although it did not produce uniform statehood, it provided the basis for communities to explore the scope for common statehood. On the national level, hybrid elements initially allowed for a healthy adaptation of statehood to local needs, and for legitimate, productive instruments of negotiation. This responsiveness was not maintained, and current hybrid elements threaten to undermine the polity's stability. 1. This article was completed before Somaliland's presidential election, scheduled for 26 June 2010.
The Journal on Education in Emergencies (JEiE) publishes groundbreaking and outstanding scholarly... more The Journal on Education in Emergencies (JEiE) publishes groundbreaking and outstanding scholarly and practitioner work on education in emergencies (EiE), defined broadly as quality learning opportunities for all ages in situations of crisis, including early childhood development, primary, secondary, non-formal, technical, vocation, higher and adult education.
The article explores how the process of appropriating the discourse of 'development' by Muslim or... more The article explores how the process of appropriating the discourse of 'development' by Muslim organisations and 'NGOs' might be a factor in the construction of new forms/contexts of Muslim political participation in Senegal. By promoting 'Islamic development', Muslim organisations have moved into a discursive field that was previously the fief of the secular state. It is shown how the discourse of 'development' and 'Islam' and the interplay between them are functional in the context of competition and negotiation amongst political actors in Senegal. The result observed is very complex and multifaceted. By claiming 'Islamic development' and playing with the content of these two concepts according to the powerpolitical context, 'Muslim' organisations and personalities claim political space from the 'secular' state as well as from each other. The discourse of 'development' has always had a prominent place in the Senegalese polity. Development was the very raison d'etre of the postindependence governments: the Parti Socialiste, in power from 1960 until the 'elections de l'alternance' in 2000, called itself 'PS-Parti du Developpement'. As in many African states, 'development' as it was conceived by the new bureaucratic elite was essentially a top-down process. A vanguard of trained bureaucrats was to lead Senegal and its citizens to modernity and prosperity. The state ruled by these bureaucrats was of a singularly Jacobin nature and was the only legitimate agency to interpret reality and to determine future actions. Although the topdown approach became less prominent after the early 1980s because of lack of means and the subsequent austerity measures imposed by the International Monetary Fund, the bureaucratic elite seems to have tried jealously to guard its prerogative.
Belgeo, 2001
Revue belge de géographie 4 | 2001 Miscellaneous The geographical structure of capitalism at the ... more Revue belge de géographie 4 | 2001 Miscellaneous The geographical structure of capitalism at the origin of cultural protest against globalization as expressed in contemporary politics of identity De geografische structuur van het kapitalisme aan de oorsprong van het cultureel protest tegen mondialisering uitgedrukt in hedendaagse vormen van identiteitspolitiek
Africa Spectrum, 2007
Summary Can informal 'traditional' institutions help to... more Summary Can informal 'traditional' institutions help to build more legitimate, ac-countable and efficient states and governance? This article aims to con-tribute to that emerging discussion by unraveling the story of 'Somali-land', a self-declared independent republic which ...
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Consider Somaliland, 2012
Can ‘traditional’ leaders and institutions help to build more legitimate, accountable and effect... more Can ‘traditional’ leaders and institutions help to build more legitimate, accountable and effective governments in polities or ‘states’ under (re)construction? This book investigates the case of “Somaliland”, the 20-year old non-recognized state which emerged from Somalia’s conflict and state collapse. A careful analysis of Somaliland’s political history, it outlines the complex and evolving institutional and power dynamics involving clan elders, militia leaders, guerrilla movements, as well as politicians and civil servants in its emerging state structures. While showing the great potential of endogenous processes, it clearly demonstrates the complexity and the politics of those processes and the necessity to think beyond one-size-fits-all state-building formulas.