My STEP signature project was a month-long study abroad trip titled, Field Research Methods for Politics and Development in Africa. During the course we learned about social science research methodologies used to understand political and development outcomes in Malawi, and in Africa more broadly. Throughout the trip we attended class sessions with guest lecturers from the University of Malawi, engaged in discussions with local experts, and visited historical and cultural sites. 

This study abroad trip was my first time leaving the United States. It was also my first time learning how a local government operates first hand. In the US, we often hear about government inefficiencies or bloated bureaucracies that slow down the delivery of public services and frustrate everyday Americans. Even in the upcoming elections this fall, issues of corruption, government transparency, and simple decency are front and center. While I knew that these issues were not confined only to our borders, they, at the same time, also seemed uniquely American. Before leaving the US, I believed that through campaigning for candidates, protesting for causes, and engaging with local, state, or the federal government to advocate change, these issues could be remedied. I applied these thoughts outside of an American context, believing that they could also be successful in democracies around the world. After traveling to Malawi, however, I’ve found that advocating for reform or even demanding basic public services is incredibly challenging for most citizens in Malawi. Campaigning for an opposition candidate can lead to political and social alienation, protesting can lead to detainment, and engaging with the local or federal government will often lead nowhere. To confront these challenges, I learned that it is not possible to tackle problems how someone would in the US. I found that, although democracies share similar roots, they are also rooted, individually, in the culture, history, and society of the countries where they take form, which must be accounted for.

For the majority of the trip, we stayed in Zomba, which is one of the four major cities in Malawi, and is in the southern region of the country. During our time there, we went on several trips to speak with local government experts in the city. One of these trips was at the Malawi City Council. In Malawi, city councils are divided into two wings, a technocratic wing, and an elected wing. The technocratic wing is staffed by individuals appointed by the federal government who complete bureaucratic tasks and implement policies enacted by the city councilors. The elected wing are filled by city councilors who are elected by the constituents within their district, and are tasked to vote on and enact policies. 

In one of our class sessions we discussed the intricacies of city councils in Malawi. In the Malawian Constitution, and further laws enacted in 1998 and 2016, respectively, Malawi has sought to embolden its local governments. The thought is that by empowering local governments,they will be more readily able to ascertain the needs of their constituents, offer local services more effectively, and promote increased democratic participation. Despite these goals, however, the federal government has refused to relinquish its control over the local councils. When they appoint technocrats, for example, they are typically the only educated members of a city council, and will often overtake the duties of elected members. The federal government also does not fully fund local councils, creating a disparity between what their constituents need and what they can accomplish. It is these issues that I hoped to ask and learn more about.

After our class session, we went to the Zomba City Council Offices, where we spoke to three members on the council. They were part of the technocratic wing of the council. During the discussion, the members explained the primary functions of city councils in Malawi and elaborated on the specific roles they perform in Zomba. As the discussion went on, the issue of underfunding caught my attention. The councilors explained that while Malawi law requires that 5% of central government expenditures go to local councils, the councils receive much left. When I asked if there is any formal mechanism to petition for more funding, they said they can only make a request to the government, but there is no enforcement mechanism to compel the central government to follow its law. Additionally, the councilors also mentioned that they often have to rely on funding from third-party organizations. I asked about how that process works and they told me that any funding received from these types of organizations must be approved and filtered through the central government. Upon reflection, it seemed obvious that the central government in Malawi was professing democratization and decentralization, but was afraid to relinquish control over local governments, largely for political reasons.

I learned that political dynamics focused on power and control are as persistent in Malawi as they are in the US. If these dynamics are to be examined and combatted, however, the response has to be situated within the context of the country being examined. After our meeting with the city council, we learned about how local chiefs and NGOs are an avenue for Malawians to express their complaints and can advocate for change on their behalf. Furthermore, we learned that ethnic cleavages, language disparities, and lack of access to resources, play a substantial role in Malawian political discourse. Although these problems may exist in every country, the specific role they plan depends on the cultural, historical, and social dynamics of that country. An evaluation of gun policy in the US for example, will be substantially different than one in Malawi, even if both countries faced the same problem, because of the role guns have in American political debate.

I want to have a job within the federal government, which may mean I have to interact with state or local governments to achieve shared goals and efficient services. Learning more about how the central and local governments operate in Malawi has shown me that although countries may experience similar issues, such as corruption, violence, government transparency, etc., they cannot be solved through blanket solutions. Combating these problems requires understanding the culture, history, and social nuances of the countries being studied, and a commitment to create positive change.