God, People and Power in Malawi

C. Ross

Description

Between 1992 and 1994 Malawi underwent a remarkable transition from dictatorship to democracy. Truly a transformation of power! Yet this period of profound change raised many issues of power and accountability. In this book some of the key questions are explained and addressed from a theological perspective. The work originated as a case study on the World Council of Churches �Theology of Life� programme. It was then presented as a Kachere Monograph in the belief that it will not only contribute to the reconstruction of politic in Malawi but also be an important resource for all those concerned with the formation of a viable theology of power for today�s world. It is now presented here again as a Luviri Reprint. The contributors are all drawn from the University of Malawi Department of Theology and Religious Studies. Kenneth Ross has written on �The Transformation of Power in Malawi 1992-94: the Role of the Christian Churches� and �A Practical Theology of Power for the New Malawi�; Felix Chingota on �The Use of the Bible in Social Transformation�; Isabel Apawo Phiri on �Marching, Suspended and Stoned: Christian Women in Malawi 1995�; James Tengatenga on �Young People: Participation or Alienation? An Anglican Case�; J.C. Chankanza and Hilary Mijoga on �Muslim Perspectives on Power�; Hilary Mijoga on �Christian Experience in Malawi Prisons�; and Klaus Fiedler on �Power at the Receiving End: the Jehova�s Witnesses� Experience in One-Party Malawi� and �Even in the Church the Exercise of Power is Accountable to God�.

Informations

• Publié par: Luviri Press
• Date de parution: 28 juin 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789996066054
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 25 Mo

Extrait

Companions to Global Chrisîanity and Chair of

Between 1992 and 1994 Malawi underwent a remarkable transiîon from dictatorship to democracy. Truly a transformaîon of power! Yet this period

this book some of the key quesîons are explained and addressed from a theological perspecîve. The work originated as a case study on the World

reconstrucîon of poliîcs in Malawi but also be an important resource for all those concerned with the formaîon of a viable theology of power for

of Theology and Religious Studies. Kenneth Ross has wrien on “The Transformaîon of Power in Malawi 1992-94: the Role of the Chrisîan Churches” and “A Pracîcal Theology of Power for the New Malawi”; Felix Chingota on “The Use of the Bible in Social Transformaîon”; Isabel Apawo Phiri on “Marching, Suspended and Stoned: Chrisîan Women in Malawi 1995”; James Tengatenga on “Young People: Parîcipaîon or Alienaîon? An Anglican Case”; J.C. Chankanza and Hilary Mijoga on “Muslim Perspecîves on Power”; Hilary Mijoga on “Chrisîan Experience in Malawi Prisons”; and Klaus Fiedler on “Power at the Receiving End: the Jehova’s Witnesses’ Experience in One-Party Malawi” and “Even in the Church the Exercise of

which offers a rango of books on

God Peop G le o a d n , d P Po e w o e p r l in e M a a n la d wi Power in Malawi

Democratization in Theological Perspective

Kenneth R. Ross

Edited by Kenneth R. Ross

Luviri Reprints no. 4

God, People and Power in Malawi

Copyright 2018 Kenneth R. Ross

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any from or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission from the publishers.

First Published by Kachere Series in 1996.

Published by Luviri Press P/Bag 201 Luwinga Mzuzu 2

ISBN eISBN

978-99960-66-04-7 978-99960-66-05-4

Luviri Reprints no. 4

Luviri Press is represented outside Malawi by: African Books Collective Oxford ([e-mail])

www.mzunipress.blogspot.com www.africanbookscollective.com

God, People and Power in Malawi

Democratization in Theological Perspective

Edited by Kenneth R. Ross

Luviri Press

Luviri Reprints no. 4 Mzuzu 2018

Luviri Reprints

Many books have been published on or in Malawi that are no longer available. While some of these books simply have run their course, others are still of interest for scholars and the general public. Some of the classics have been reprinted outside Malawi over the decades, and during the last two decades, first the Kachere Series and then other publishers have achieved "never out of stock status" by joining the African Books Collective's Print on Demand approach, but there are still a good number of books that would be of interest but are no longer in print.

The Luviri Reprint Series has taken up the task to make those books on or from Malawi, which are out of print but not out of interest, available again, through Print on Demand and therefore worldwide.

While the Luviri Reprint Series concentrates on Malawi, it is also interested in the neighbouring countries and even in those further afield.

Luviri Reprints publish the books as they originally were. Usually a new Foreword is added, and where appropriate, new information has been added. All such additions, mostly in footnotes, are marked by an asterisk (*).

The Editors

Foreword

Of all the research and publication that emerged from a fertile and productive period in the life of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Chancellor College, University of Malawi, in the mid-1990s, arguably the project that retains most relevance in relation to national life is the one that led to the publication ofGod, People and Power: Democratisation in Theological Perspective in 1996. While democratic systems were introduced to Malawi at that time and have proved their durability in the years since, it was already apparent that there were many obstacles to be overcome if Malawi were to becoming a truly democratic nation, with government “of the people by the people for the people.” Hindrances to democratization that were identified by this book have proved remarkably intractable and hence the analysis it offers retains much relevance.

Over the past two decades I have been closely involved in the collaboration between Scotland and Malawi that aims to address issues of social and economic development. This effort found expression in a Cooperation Agreement signed between the Scottish and Malawian Governments in 2005. This had four strands: health, education, economic development and governance. In the outworking of the Agreement many successful initiatives have been taken in regard to its first three strands. As is widely acknowledged, the one on which least progress has been made is governance. Yet for development in any other sphere to be sustained and effective there is need for sound governance to be in place at all levels of society. Malawians are all too aware that they have too often been let down by failures of governance. Hence this book’s identification of factors that tend to undermine good governance remains of critical relevance today.

The original project on which the book is based focussed on Malawi’s attempts to build a democratic society after the fall of the one-party system but it formed one part of a much bigger and more international framework. This was the World Council of Churches “Theology of Life” process conducted by its Justice, Peace and Creation unit. This proved to be a highly influential initiative of the WCC. When it adopted its new mission affirmation –Together Towards Life– in 2012 it had the concept of “life” at its heart. It begins with the statement that: “We believe in the Triune God who is the creator, redeemer, and sustainer of all life…. A denial

of life is a rejection of the God of life. God invites us into the life-giving mission of the Triune God and empowers us to bear witness to the vision of abundant life for all in the new heaven and earth. How do weand where discern G od ’ s life-giving work that enables us to participate in G od ’ s mission today?” (§1) This theological framework was already anticipated byGod, People and Powerand it bears continuing study as one component part in the formation of an emerging ecumenical consensus that has informed and energised commitment to the mission of God in our time.

It is, however, its continuing relevance and applicability in the Malawi context that is likely to its main selling point in the years to come. The book pays particular attention to those who have been excluded or disempowered and who now seek to play their full part in the democratic era: women, youth, prisoners, Muslims and minority groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses. With the prevailing system apparently working in favour of the more elite members of society, perspectives that come from the margins raise sharp questions. Perhaps it is these that helped to shape the challenges to democratisation that are identified in the book’s conclusion. Many of these remain matters of concern today. Full democratic participation is haunted by the spectre of regionalism, ruthlessly exploited by politicians anxious to secure their own position. Power continues to be concentrated in the Presidency with only limited progress in the separation of powers. Civil society activism tends to be seen by those in power as a threat and is therefore either co-opted or crushed rather than being seen as a welcome contributor to vibrant democratic debate. Participation often seems to be a mission element in Malawi’s democracy as people conclude, with Jean-Jacques Rousseau that democracy is no more than their freedom to choose every few years who is going to oppress them! The sense of exclusion and alienation is compounded by the failure of the new dispensation to effectively address economic inequalities in society. If anything, these have widened during the democratic era, fuelling public anger at such egregious abuses of power as the Cashgate corruption scandal. Finally, it remains the case that the life of the churches in Malawi too often mirrors unhealthy aspects of the political system rather than challenging them. Few, if any, organisations are as well-placed as the churches to model and foster democratic participation. Yet the exercise of power within the churches remains very much in need of evangelical critique.

At the end of the day, this is a book that aims to move beyond social analysis, even as it is much indebted to the critiques of social scientists. It aims to make a theological contribution, mindful of C.S. Song’s dictum that: “God’s politics does not consist of attempts to seize power. What it aims at is the transformation of power.” Partial and time-limited as it is, might this reprint provoke and inform attempts to so transform Malawian political life that it will be moving in the direction of the kingdom of God. I am grateful to Luviri Press for the effort they are making to keep the book available and thus make it possible for it to fulfil this calling. Kenneth R. Ross Netherlorn, Argyll June 2018