Illuminating the Arts-Policy Nexus 

AFRICA‘S GOVERNANCE GAP

a panel discussion with

KWAME AKONOR is the founder of the African Development Institute (ADI), a non-governmental think-tank based in New York, which examines the problems of development in Africa. He is currently an adjunct professor of graduate studies in the department of political science at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the Graduate Center (CUNY).
and

ELKE ZUERN is an Assistant Professor of Politics, Sarah Lawrence College. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from Columbia University. Among her primary interests are the role of social movements and violence in the processes of democratization. She is the recipient of a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship at Amherst College and a Lowenstein Fellowship. She has written articles for such publications as African Affairs, African Studies Review, South African Labour Bulletin, Transformation, and Politikon .

Moderated by
TODD LESTER is an independent consultant for participatory communications. He is also an adjunct instructor in the Media and Cultural Studies division of Eugene Lang College at the New School University. He holds a Masters of Public Administration from Rutgers University and is candidate for Doctorate of Public and Urban Policy and a Film Production Diploma from the New School University. 

T he panel discussion will examine the current governance problems in Africa. Among the key topics to be reviewed: how much is the development of democracy in the region influenced by the establishment of free societies in such states as South Africa and Nigeria? How much is informed by prior experiences with colonialism? What impact does tribalism, ethnicity and religion play in attempts at Western-style nation building? These and related issues will be the subject of discussion by the panelists.

Thursday, April 07, 2005, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Swayduck Auditorium, First Floor, 65 Fifth Avenue (between East 13-14th). Admission is free.