非洲風情：烏干達─掙扎求存的公民社會

在東非的烏干達，有「食人魔」之稱的獨裁總統阿敏，在八十年代遭到推翻。米爾頓・奧博特領導反對黨人民大會黨，在選舉中勝出。可惜國內民主基礎薄弱，經歷多年內戰後，最終由全國抵抗軍的約韋里・穆塞韋尼出任總統。

經濟改革方面，他摒棄共產主義，接受國際貨幣基金組織和世界銀行的援助和改革。政治改革方面，他聲稱擔心種族和地區衝突，政客只能以無黨派身份競逐議會。因而無視全民抵抗運動的呼籲，堅持推行「無黨派」民主制度。

由於不需要依循政黨的路線，國會議員和社運人士與行政機關保持一定的獨立性。女權主義人士亦把握機會，紛紛成立倡議組織。早在阿敏管治時期，全國婦女組織協會就被納入總理管治範圍。然而，坊間不少女性仍然未能保障個人政治權利，免受暴力和強奸對待的保障。

為了推動婦女權利，坊間成立名為發展行動的組織。1987年，總統穆塞韋尼進一步成立婦女與發展部長的職位。安排促使部分女性政客，減少對政府批評。但她們成功換取機會，在體制內推動性別議題。例如1995年國會修憲，確保最少三分之一地方政府的席位由女性出任。

Uganda - The Power of Civil Society

The dictator Idi Amin was overthrown in the 1908s. Milton Obote and his Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) won the election. However, Yoweri Museveni from the National Resistance Army took the power following a period of chronic instability.

In terms of economics, he abandoned his early support for Marxism, and embraced the IMF and World Bank. In terms of politics, however his National Resistance Movement called for political liberalisation, he insisted on promoting a system of “no-party democracy” till 2005. 

Fearing of ethnic and regional instability, individuals were only allowed to compete for office on a non-partisan basis. Legislators and activists therefore maintained a degree of independence from the executive, without following the party line.

Women’s groups were incorporated to the National Council of Women, under the office of the prime minister in the past. Feminists politicians found it difficult to exercise free political choices, as well as secure protection from violence and rape.

So how did feminists take advantage of this system? To advocate women's rights, they established the organisation of Action for Development. Museveni further acknowledged their effort and created the post of minister for women and development in 1987.

Though some of them had to limit their criticism, they managed to push for progress on gender issues, such as an agreement on the constitution - at least one-third of local parliament seats would be reserved for women in 1995.

名稱：非洲民主：成功、失敗與政治改革的鬥爭 (暫譯) (Democracy in Africa: Successes, Failures, and the Struggle for Political Reform)

作者：Nic Cheeseman

年份：2015

出版地：美國

出版社：劍橋大學出版社

類別：非洲政治

評分：7/10

IMG: https://www.history.com/topics/africa/idi-amin