Greening up and the Political Manifestos: A Review of Political Party Manifestos on Issues of the Environment in Malawi

Aeron Madalitso Anastanzio Nahuku; Alinune Musopole; Harrison Bokola; Doreen Mdzeka Nahuku

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11

| Peer-Reviewed

Greening up and the Political Manifestos: A Review of Political Party Manifestos on Issues of the Environment in Malawi

Aeron Madalitso Anastanzio Nahuku, Alinune Musopole, Harrison Bokola, Doreen Mdzeka Nahuku

Published in International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 8, Issue 5)

Received: 16 September 2020 Accepted: 29 September 2020 Published: 7 October 2020

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Environmental mismanagement or inequality, or both are a cause of havoc and risk vulnerability to most countries across the globe with the worst hit being the developing ones. Issues of water and food supply crises, extreme energy volatilities, greenhouse gas emissions and its impacts, severe income disparity, chronic fiscal imbalances among others are such examples of risks encountered by countries. Lack of political parties’ substantive ideologies, and that their policy positions are almost identical and often times centered within their political will, has seen the environment being crippled with little to no attention within their manifestos. This study involved a review of 5 political party manifestos in the Malawi 2019 Tripartite Election (TPE) by utilizing the Manifesto Research Group (MRG) methodology of counting the number of environmental sentences in party manifestos for national elections. Total number of statements with those for the environment were compared. Quantitative data management used Microsoft excel and IBM^® SPSS^® statistics version 23.0 for organization and to further analyse and answer the research question(s). From a total of 5 manifestos whose statement were studied especially on the issues of the environment, a revelation showed that only 60% of the manifestos had a standalone section with the majority of those with sections/chapters registering less than 10 statements on issues of the environment as compared to other sections like for example health and sustainable economic growth. 33% of the available standalone sections had no statement as a commitment in combating issues of the environment. Lack of commitment by parties has been displayed through their manifestos in helping to address problems that surround our environment by having scanty or no section at all. Having an environmental section/chapter with not even one statement on it has evidenced lack of seriousness and prioritization by parties. This just shows that there is little commitment by parties to fight issues of the environment that are a cause of most economic havocs. Parties in Malawi, must therefore consider the environment seriously right at the onset of manifesto development in order to inform proper policy development and implementations.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 8, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11
Page(s)	94-99
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Environment, Manifesto, Political Party, Political Will, Policy

References

[1]	Abazović, D., & Mujkić, A. (2015). Political will: a short introduction Case study-Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES).
[2]	Arrow, K., Bolin, B., Costanza, R., Dasgupta, P., Folke, C., Holling, C., &…, D. (1995). Economic Growth, Carrying Capacity, and the Environment. Ecological Economics, 15 (2), 91-95.
[3]	Birchall, S. (2014). Termination Theory and National Climate Change Mitigation Programs: the Case of New Zealand. Review of Policy Research, 31 (1), 38-59.
[4]	Brulle, R., Carmichael, J., & Jenkins, J. (2012). Shifting Public Opinion on Climate Change: an Empirical Assessment of Factors Influencing Concern Over Climate Change in the U.S., 2002-2010. Climatic Change, 114 (2), 169-188.
[5]	DTA. (2014). DTA of Namibia, 2014 Election Manifesto. DTA-Namibia.
[6]	EAD. (2010). Malawi State of Environment and Outlook Report; Environment for Sustainable Economic Growth. Lilongwe: Environmental Affairs Department.
[7]	Eder, N., Jenny, M., & Müller, W. C. (2017). Manifesto functions: How party candidates view and use their party's central policy document. Journal of Electoral Studies, 75-85. doi: 10.1016/j.electstud.2016.11.011.
[8]	Elischer, S. (2012). Measuring and comparing party ideology in nonindustrialized societies: taking party manifesto research to Africa. Democratization, 19 (4), 642 –667.
[9]	EPP. (2019). European Peoples Party. Retrieved August 7, 2019, from European Peoples Party website: https://www.epp.eu/files/uploads/2019/05/EPP-MANIFESTO-2019.pdf.
[10]	Guha, A., & Joe, E. T. (2019, March 2). ‘Environment’ in the Election Manifestos. Economic and Political Weekly, 54 (9).
[11]	Holm, P., Adamson, J., Huang, H., Kirdan, L., Kitch, S., McCalman, I.,... Wehner, K. (2015). Humanities for the Environment-A Manifesto for Research and Action. Journal of Humanities, 4, 977-992. doi: 10.3390/h4040977.
[12]	HR. (2019). 2019 Cyclone Idai-Situation Report 2. Humanity Road. Humanity Road.
[13]	Michallet, B., Gaeta, G. L., & Facchini, F. (2015). Greening Up or Not? The Determinants Political Parties' Environmental Concerns: An Emperical Analysis Based on European Data (1970-2008). Halshs-01154006.
[14]	Mpesi, A. M. (2011, March 22). Special Section: On Malawi Political Parties and their Manifestos: Inferring Party Policy Positions in Malawi since 1994. Altmetric, 38 (1), 25-41.
[15]	Neumeyar, E. (2004). The Environment, Left Wing Political Oriantation and the Ecological Economics. Ecological Economics, 54 (3-4), 167-175.
[16]	OAGC. (2004). The Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the House of Commons. Canada: The Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAGC).
[17]	OECD. (June, 2012). Green Growth and Developing Countries: CONSULTATION DRAFT. OECD. Retrieved June 13, 2020, from https://www.oecd.org/dac/environment-development/50559116.pdf.
[18]	Post, L. A., Raile, A. N., & Raile, E. D. (2010). Defining Political Will. Politics and Policy, 38 (4), 653-676.
[19]	Rollinson, S. (2010, Winter). Changing Dynamics of Environmental Politics in Britain: a case study of the UK Climate Change Act. POLIS Journal, 3.
[20]	Ryan, D. (2017). Politics and Climate Change: Exploring the Relationship Between Political Parties and Climate Issues in Latin American. Ambiente & Sociedade, 20 (2), 271-286.
[21]	UNESCAP. (n.d.). www.unescap.org. Retrieved March 26, 2019, from UNESCAP Website: https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/CH08.PDF.
[22]	W. E. F. (2012). Global Risks 2012. Cologny, Geneva.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Aeron Madalitso Anastanzio Nahuku, Alinune Musopole, Harrison Bokola, Doreen Mdzeka Nahuku. (2020). Greening up and the Political Manifestos: A Review of Political Party Manifestos on Issues of the Environment in Malawi. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 8(5), 94-99. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Aeron Madalitso Anastanzio Nahuku; Alinune Musopole; Harrison Bokola; Doreen Mdzeka Nahuku. Greening up and the Political Manifestos: A Review of Political Party Manifestos on Issues of the Environment in Malawi. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2020, 8(5), 94-99. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Aeron Madalitso Anastanzio Nahuku, Alinune Musopole, Harrison Bokola, Doreen Mdzeka Nahuku. Greening up and the Political Manifestos: A Review of Political Party Manifestos on Issues of the Environment in Malawi. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2020;8(5):94-99. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11,
  author = {Aeron Madalitso Anastanzio Nahuku and Alinune Musopole and Harrison Bokola and Doreen Mdzeka Nahuku},
  title = {Greening up and the Political Manifestos: A Review of Political Party Manifestos on Issues of the Environment in Malawi},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
  volume = {8},
  number = {5},
  pages = {94-99},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20200805.11},
  abstract = {Environmental mismanagement or inequality, or both are a cause of havoc and risk vulnerability to most countries across the globe with the worst hit being the developing ones. Issues of water and food supply crises, extreme energy volatilities, greenhouse gas emissions and its impacts, severe income disparity, chronic fiscal imbalances among others are such examples of risks encountered by countries. Lack of political parties’ substantive ideologies, and that their policy positions are almost identical and often times centered within their political will, has seen the environment being crippled with little to no attention within their manifestos. This study involved a review of 5 political party manifestos in the Malawi 2019 Tripartite Election (TPE) by utilizing the Manifesto Research Group (MRG) methodology of counting the number of environmental sentences in party manifestos for national elections. Total number of statements with those for the environment were compared. Quantitative data management used Microsoft excel and IBM® SPSS® statistics version 23.0 for organization and to further analyse and answer the research question(s). From a total of 5 manifestos whose statement were studied especially on the issues of the environment, a revelation showed that only 60% of the manifestos had a standalone section with the majority of those with sections/chapters registering less than 10 statements on issues of the environment as compared to other sections like for example health and sustainable economic growth. 33% of the available standalone sections had no statement as a commitment in combating issues of the environment. Lack of commitment by parties has been displayed through their manifestos in helping to address problems that surround our environment by having scanty or no section at all. Having an environmental section/chapter with not even one statement on it has evidenced lack of seriousness and prioritization by parties. This just shows that there is little commitment by parties to fight issues of the environment that are a cause of most economic havocs. Parties in Malawi, must therefore consider the environment seriously right at the onset of manifesto development in order to inform proper policy development and implementations.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Greening up and the Political Manifestos: A Review of Political Party Manifestos on Issues of the Environment in Malawi
AU  - Aeron Madalitso Anastanzio Nahuku
AU  - Alinune Musopole
AU  - Harrison Bokola
AU  - Doreen Mdzeka Nahuku
Y1  - 2020/10/07
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
SP  - 94
EP  - 99
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7536
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11
AB  - Environmental mismanagement or inequality, or both are a cause of havoc and risk vulnerability to most countries across the globe with the worst hit being the developing ones. Issues of water and food supply crises, extreme energy volatilities, greenhouse gas emissions and its impacts, severe income disparity, chronic fiscal imbalances among others are such examples of risks encountered by countries. Lack of political parties’ substantive ideologies, and that their policy positions are almost identical and often times centered within their political will, has seen the environment being crippled with little to no attention within their manifestos. This study involved a review of 5 political party manifestos in the Malawi 2019 Tripartite Election (TPE) by utilizing the Manifesto Research Group (MRG) methodology of counting the number of environmental sentences in party manifestos for national elections. Total number of statements with those for the environment were compared. Quantitative data management used Microsoft excel and IBM® SPSS® statistics version 23.0 for organization and to further analyse and answer the research question(s). From a total of 5 manifestos whose statement were studied especially on the issues of the environment, a revelation showed that only 60% of the manifestos had a standalone section with the majority of those with sections/chapters registering less than 10 statements on issues of the environment as compared to other sections like for example health and sustainable economic growth. 33% of the available standalone sections had no statement as a commitment in combating issues of the environment. Lack of commitment by parties has been displayed through their manifestos in helping to address problems that surround our environment by having scanty or no section at all. Having an environmental section/chapter with not even one statement on it has evidenced lack of seriousness and prioritization by parties. This just shows that there is little commitment by parties to fight issues of the environment that are a cause of most economic havocs. Parties in Malawi, must therefore consider the environment seriously right at the onset of manifesto development in order to inform proper policy development and implementations.
VL  - 8
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Aeron Madalitso Anastanzio Nahuku

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and Health Professions (BMSHP), University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
Alinune Musopole

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and Health Professions (BMSHP), University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
Harrison Bokola

Department of Physics and Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
Doreen Mdzeka Nahuku

Department of Language and Communications, Faculty of Education and Media Studies, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Aeron Madalitso Anastanzio Nahuku, Alinune Musopole, Harrison Bokola, Doreen Mdzeka Nahuku. (2020). Greening up and the Political Manifestos: A Review of Political Party Manifestos on Issues of the Environment in Malawi. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 8(5), 94-99. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Aeron Madalitso Anastanzio Nahuku; Alinune Musopole; Harrison Bokola; Doreen Mdzeka Nahuku. Greening up and the Political Manifestos: A Review of Political Party Manifestos on Issues of the Environment in Malawi. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2020, 8(5), 94-99. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Aeron Madalitso Anastanzio Nahuku, Alinune Musopole, Harrison Bokola, Doreen Mdzeka Nahuku. Greening up and the Political Manifestos: A Review of Political Party Manifestos on Issues of the Environment in Malawi. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2020;8(5):94-99. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11,
  author = {Aeron Madalitso Anastanzio Nahuku and Alinune Musopole and Harrison Bokola and Doreen Mdzeka Nahuku},
  title = {Greening up and the Political Manifestos: A Review of Political Party Manifestos on Issues of the Environment in Malawi},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
  volume = {8},
  number = {5},
  pages = {94-99},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20200805.11},
  abstract = {Environmental mismanagement or inequality, or both are a cause of havoc and risk vulnerability to most countries across the globe with the worst hit being the developing ones. Issues of water and food supply crises, extreme energy volatilities, greenhouse gas emissions and its impacts, severe income disparity, chronic fiscal imbalances among others are such examples of risks encountered by countries. Lack of political parties’ substantive ideologies, and that their policy positions are almost identical and often times centered within their political will, has seen the environment being crippled with little to no attention within their manifestos. This study involved a review of 5 political party manifestos in the Malawi 2019 Tripartite Election (TPE) by utilizing the Manifesto Research Group (MRG) methodology of counting the number of environmental sentences in party manifestos for national elections. Total number of statements with those for the environment were compared. Quantitative data management used Microsoft excel and IBM® SPSS® statistics version 23.0 for organization and to further analyse and answer the research question(s). From a total of 5 manifestos whose statement were studied especially on the issues of the environment, a revelation showed that only 60% of the manifestos had a standalone section with the majority of those with sections/chapters registering less than 10 statements on issues of the environment as compared to other sections like for example health and sustainable economic growth. 33% of the available standalone sections had no statement as a commitment in combating issues of the environment. Lack of commitment by parties has been displayed through their manifestos in helping to address problems that surround our environment by having scanty or no section at all. Having an environmental section/chapter with not even one statement on it has evidenced lack of seriousness and prioritization by parties. This just shows that there is little commitment by parties to fight issues of the environment that are a cause of most economic havocs. Parties in Malawi, must therefore consider the environment seriously right at the onset of manifesto development in order to inform proper policy development and implementations.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Greening up and the Political Manifestos: A Review of Political Party Manifestos on Issues of the Environment in Malawi
AU  - Aeron Madalitso Anastanzio Nahuku
AU  - Alinune Musopole
AU  - Harrison Bokola
AU  - Doreen Mdzeka Nahuku
Y1  - 2020/10/07
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
SP  - 94
EP  - 99
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7536
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200805.11
AB  - Environmental mismanagement or inequality, or both are a cause of havoc and risk vulnerability to most countries across the globe with the worst hit being the developing ones. Issues of water and food supply crises, extreme energy volatilities, greenhouse gas emissions and its impacts, severe income disparity, chronic fiscal imbalances among others are such examples of risks encountered by countries. Lack of political parties’ substantive ideologies, and that their policy positions are almost identical and often times centered within their political will, has seen the environment being crippled with little to no attention within their manifestos. This study involved a review of 5 political party manifestos in the Malawi 2019 Tripartite Election (TPE) by utilizing the Manifesto Research Group (MRG) methodology of counting the number of environmental sentences in party manifestos for national elections. Total number of statements with those for the environment were compared. Quantitative data management used Microsoft excel and IBM® SPSS® statistics version 23.0 for organization and to further analyse and answer the research question(s). From a total of 5 manifestos whose statement were studied especially on the issues of the environment, a revelation showed that only 60% of the manifestos had a standalone section with the majority of those with sections/chapters registering less than 10 statements on issues of the environment as compared to other sections like for example health and sustainable economic growth. 33% of the available standalone sections had no statement as a commitment in combating issues of the environment. Lack of commitment by parties has been displayed through their manifestos in helping to address problems that surround our environment by having scanty or no section at all. Having an environmental section/chapter with not even one statement on it has evidenced lack of seriousness and prioritization by parties. This just shows that there is little commitment by parties to fight issues of the environment that are a cause of most economic havocs. Parties in Malawi, must therefore consider the environment seriously right at the onset of manifesto development in order to inform proper policy development and implementations.
VL  - 8
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download