4 - The reform of public universities in Tanzania: Governmentality and the exercise of power
Corresponding Author(s) : Beverly Thaver
African Sociological Review,
Vol. 23 No. 1 (2019): African Sociological Review
Abstract
In general, African nations, from the mid-20th century onwards, have witnessed an increasing and massive expansion in the university1 sector. By the first decade of the 21st century, as the sector expanded even further, so did the pressure for policy reforms increase from across the globe and the African regions. These reforms were established as instruments for advancing national development, namely, within the trajectory of reducing poverty through sustainable (economic and social) growth. Drawing on the East African nation of Tanzania, this article focuses on the implementation of a policy reform in three public universities. The reform (framed within the policy narrative of strategies for growth and the reduction of poverty), is referenced in Swahili as “Mkakati wa Kukuza Uchumi na Kupunguza Umaskini”. The dynamics associated with the implementation process are interpreted within the framework of Michel Foucault’s theory of Governmentality which is premised on a particular form and exercise of power relations. In this respect, the article seeks to understand how the reform was drawn upon as a regime of governance, namely, as regulating behaviour in three universities in Tanzania, with specific reference to the mandates of ‘access’ and ‘quality’.
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- Akosua A., Beoku J, Osirim, M. (2008). Researching African Women and Gender Studies: New Social Science Perspectives, African and Asian Studies 7: 327-341. Altbach, P. G., Reisberg, L., & Rumbley, L. E. (2009). Trends in global higher education: Tracking an academic revolution. (Sense: UNESCO Publishing).
- Bloom, D., Canning, D., & Chan, K. (2006). Higher education and economic development in Africa. Massachusetts: Harvard University.
- Brigg, M. (2002). Post-development, Foucault and the colonization metaphor. Third World Quarterly, 23(3), 421-436.
- Dean, M. (1998). ‘Administering Asceticism: Reworking the ethical life of the unemployed Citizen’, in M. Dean & B. Hindess (eds.), Governing Australia: Studies in contemporary rationalities of government, Cambridge: Cambridge university Press, 87-107.
- Dean, M. (1999). Governmentality: power and rule in modern society. London: Sage Publications.
- Dean, M. (2002). Liberal government and authoritarianism. Economy and Society, 31(1), 37–61.
- Denzin, N. K. (2002). The interpretive process. The qualitative researcher’s companion, 349-366.
- Fejes, A.(2006). Constructing the Adult Learner: A Governmentality Analysis, Linköping: Liu-Tryck.
- Fimyar, O. (2008). Using governmentality as a conceptual tool in education policy research. Educate, 1(1), 3-18.
- Foucault, M, (1991). Governmentality. In Burchell, G., Gordon, C., & Miller, P. (Eds).The Foucault Effect: Studies in governmentality. University of Chicago Press.
- Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and Punish. New York: Vintage.
- Foucault, M. (1978). The History of Sexuality: Volume I- An Introduction. New York; Random House
- Foucault, M. (1979). Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. London: Penguin. Foucault, M. (1980). Power/knowledge: Selected interviews and other writings, 1972-1977.
- Foucault, M. (1980b). ‘ Power and Strategies’. In C. Gordon (Ed.), Power/Knowledge (pp. 134-145). New York:
- Foucault, M. (1982). The History of Sexuality (Vol. 1): An Introduction. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
- Foucault, M. (1988). Politics, Philosophy, Culture: Interviews and Other Writings (pp.1977–1984). New York: Routledge.
- Foucault, M. (1991). Governmentality. In Burchell, G., Gordon, C., Miller, P. (Eds.), The Foucault Effect: Studies in Governmentality. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
- Foucault, M. (1992). The use of pleasure: Volume two of the history of sexuality. New York: Vintage. (Original work published 1984).
- Foucault, M., (2000). ‘Omnes et Singulatim’: towards a critique of political reason’. In: Faubion, J.D. (Ed.), Power: Essential works of Foucault, 1954–1984, Vol. 3. Penguin, London.
- Hayward, F.M.(2006). Quality assurance and accreditation of higher education in Africa. Conference on “Higher Education Reform in Francophone Africa: Understanding the Keys of Success”. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, June 13-15, 2006.
- Jann, W. and K. Wegrich (2006). ‘Theories of the Policy Cycle’, In F. Fischer, G. Miller, M. Sidney (Eds.), Handbook of Public Policy Analysis: Theory, Politics, and Methods. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 43–62.
- Lihamba, A; Mwaipopo, R; Shule, L. (2006). The Challenges of Affirmative Action in Tanzania Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study of the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In Woman’s Studies International Forum (Vol 29, No 6, pp 581 – 591); Pergamon.
- Morley, L. (2003), Quality and Power in Higher Education, Society for Research into Higher Buckingham, UK.
- Myenzi, Y. (2009). Women’s Land Rights in Tanzania: What Are the Challenges. Hakiardhi presentation at Mzumbe University Dar es Salaam Campus, 10th January, 2009 Dar es Salaam. http://www.hakiardhi.org/HA-Docs/women.pdf.
- Rose, N. (1996) ‘Governing ‘advanced’ liberal democracies’. In A. Barry, T. Osborne & N. Rose (Eds.) Foucault and political reason: liberalism, neo-liberalism and rationalities of government London: UCL Press, 37–64.
- United Republic of Tanzania, (2005). National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP).Dar es Salaam: The Vice President’s Office, June 2005.
References
Akosua A., Beoku J, Osirim, M. (2008). Researching African Women and Gender Studies: New Social Science Perspectives, African and Asian Studies 7: 327-341. Altbach, P. G., Reisberg, L., & Rumbley, L. E. (2009). Trends in global higher education: Tracking an academic revolution. (Sense: UNESCO Publishing).
Bloom, D., Canning, D., & Chan, K. (2006). Higher education and economic development in Africa. Massachusetts: Harvard University.
Brigg, M. (2002). Post-development, Foucault and the colonization metaphor. Third World Quarterly, 23(3), 421-436.
Dean, M. (1998). ‘Administering Asceticism: Reworking the ethical life of the unemployed Citizen’, in M. Dean & B. Hindess (eds.), Governing Australia: Studies in contemporary rationalities of government, Cambridge: Cambridge university Press, 87-107.
Dean, M. (1999). Governmentality: power and rule in modern society. London: Sage Publications.
Dean, M. (2002). Liberal government and authoritarianism. Economy and Society, 31(1), 37–61.
Denzin, N. K. (2002). The interpretive process. The qualitative researcher’s companion, 349-366.
Fejes, A.(2006). Constructing the Adult Learner: A Governmentality Analysis, Linköping: Liu-Tryck.
Fimyar, O. (2008). Using governmentality as a conceptual tool in education policy research. Educate, 1(1), 3-18.
Foucault, M, (1991). Governmentality. In Burchell, G., Gordon, C., & Miller, P. (Eds).The Foucault Effect: Studies in governmentality. University of Chicago Press.
Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and Punish. New York: Vintage.
Foucault, M. (1978). The History of Sexuality: Volume I- An Introduction. New York; Random House
Foucault, M. (1979). Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. London: Penguin. Foucault, M. (1980). Power/knowledge: Selected interviews and other writings, 1972-1977.
Foucault, M. (1980b). ‘ Power and Strategies’. In C. Gordon (Ed.), Power/Knowledge (pp. 134-145). New York:
Foucault, M. (1982). The History of Sexuality (Vol. 1): An Introduction. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Foucault, M. (1988). Politics, Philosophy, Culture: Interviews and Other Writings (pp.1977–1984). New York: Routledge.
Foucault, M. (1991). Governmentality. In Burchell, G., Gordon, C., Miller, P. (Eds.), The Foucault Effect: Studies in Governmentality. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Foucault, M. (1992). The use of pleasure: Volume two of the history of sexuality. New York: Vintage. (Original work published 1984).
Foucault, M., (2000). ‘Omnes et Singulatim’: towards a critique of political reason’. In: Faubion, J.D. (Ed.), Power: Essential works of Foucault, 1954–1984, Vol. 3. Penguin, London.
Hayward, F.M.(2006). Quality assurance and accreditation of higher education in Africa. Conference on “Higher Education Reform in Francophone Africa: Understanding the Keys of Success”. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, June 13-15, 2006.
Jann, W. and K. Wegrich (2006). ‘Theories of the Policy Cycle’, In F. Fischer, G. Miller, M. Sidney (Eds.), Handbook of Public Policy Analysis: Theory, Politics, and Methods. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 43–62.
Lihamba, A; Mwaipopo, R; Shule, L. (2006). The Challenges of Affirmative Action in Tanzania Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study of the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In Woman’s Studies International Forum (Vol 29, No 6, pp 581 – 591); Pergamon.
Morley, L. (2003), Quality and Power in Higher Education, Society for Research into Higher Buckingham, UK.
Myenzi, Y. (2009). Women’s Land Rights in Tanzania: What Are the Challenges. Hakiardhi presentation at Mzumbe University Dar es Salaam Campus, 10th January, 2009 Dar es Salaam. http://www.hakiardhi.org/HA-Docs/women.pdf.
Rose, N. (1996) ‘Governing ‘advanced’ liberal democracies’. In A. Barry, T. Osborne & N. Rose (Eds.) Foucault and political reason: liberalism, neo-liberalism and rationalities of government London: UCL Press, 37–64.
United Republic of Tanzania, (2005). National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP).Dar es Salaam: The Vice President’s Office, June 2005.