
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
State-Building and Multilingual Education in Africa
About this book
How do governments in Africa make decisions about language? What does language have to do with state-building, and what impact might it have on democracy? This manuscript provides a longue durée explanation for policies toward language in Africa, taking the reader through colonial, independence, and contemporary periods. It explains the growing trend toward the use of multiple languages in education as a result of new opportunities and incentives. The opportunities incorporate ideational relationships with former colonizers as well as the work of language NGOs on the ground. The incentives relate to the current requirements of democratic institutions, and the strategies leaders devise to win elections within these constraints. By contrasting the environment faced by African leaders with that faced by European state-builders, it explains the weakness of education and limited spread of standard languages on the continent. The work combines constructivist understanding about changing preferences with realist insights about the strategies leaders employ to maintain power.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Half-title page
- Title page
- Copyright page
- Contents
- List of Tables and Figures
- Preface
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Language and Education in Africa under Mission and Colonial Influence
- 3 Language Choices in Independent African States
- 4 Opportunities for Policy Change: Ideas, Materials, and Advocacy Networks
- 5 Incentives for Policy Change: Ruler Strategies for Maintaining Power
- 6 Language, Education, and âDemocratizationâ in Cameroon
- 7 Language and Contention: Violence and Participation in Contemporary African Politics
- 8 Conclusion
- Appendix A Intensity of Local Language Use in Education
- Appendix B Language Surveys
- General Bibliography
- Index