Faith-Based Organizations and Social Welfare: Associational Life and Religion in Contemporary Africa and Latin America (Palgrave Studies in Religion, Politics, and Policy)

The case studies in this volume examine the activities of faith-based institutions in a representative sample of African and Latin American countries, including societies with and without a dominant religious tradition, and states with different levels and types of government-provided social services. Among other questions, the chapters examine the types of social service activities faith-based organizations engage in; their effect on civil society and democratic processes; their influence on the character of local and national communities; and what new pressures would be brought to bear on state-provided services if these faith-based organizations ceased to exist. Foreword Preface Thinking About the Role of Faith-based Communities in Contemporary Africa and Latin America Acknowledgments Praise for Faith-Based Organizations and Social Welfare Contents Editors and Contributors About the Editors Contributors List of Figures List of Tables Part I Theoretical Considerations 1 Religion, Faith-Based Organizations, and Welfare Delivery in Contemporary Africa and Latin America Conceptualizing Variation in Contemporary Latin America and Africa On the Implications of Studying Africa and Latin America vs. Europe Excursus: Social Welfare and Faith-Based Organizations in Brazil The Plan for the Rest of the Volume The Chapters in This Volume Societies with a Dominant Religious Marketplace Societies with Mixed Religious Marketplaces Notes 2 The Complex Context for Social Welfare and Human Capacity Strategies in Africa Approaches to Social Policies, Social Safety Nets And Religious Roles? The Setting: Poverty, a Crisis-Prone Environment, Common Aid Dependency, and Straightened Budgets Tracing Themes Traditions Colonial Experience Missionary Roles Poverty and Crises HIV/AIDS Debates and Future Directions Looking Ahead Notes 3 “Africa Is Not a Country”: General Overview of Faith-Based Services and Social Welfare in Africa Introduction Public Perception of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations Path Development General Historical Overview of Faith-Based Services and Social Welfare in Africa Current Pathways to Social Welfare and Faith-Based Services in Africa Means, Strategies, and Opportunities with Regard to Faith-Based Organizations Multi-African-Country Case Study: Tearfund Effects of Religion: Tensions and Opportunities Religion as Hindrance and Help with Regards to Gender Justice Faith-Based Organizations as Donor “Brokers” for Local Aid Religion’s Role via Faith-Based Organizations in Addressing Corruption, State Failure, and Injustice Conclusion Notes Part II Societies With a Dominant Religious Marketplace 4 Muslim NGOs in Contemporary Ghana Identifying Muslim NGOs in Ghana: A Narrow Versus a Broad Framework A Changing Landscape of Muslim NGOs in Ghana From Arab to Global Presence: International Muslim Charities Operating in Ghana Social Media and the Expansion of Muslim NGOs Conclusions Notes 5 Faith-Based Organizations and the Challenge of Developmental Social Welfare in Democratic South Africa Introduction Becoming a Social Welfare Actor in Democratic South Africa: Fundamental Reorientations Required by the New Cooperationist Religion–State Model Meeting the Required Reorientations: The Role of Selected National Ecumenical and Interfaith Bodies Factors Impeding and Eroding the Post-1994 Faith-Based Endeavor Toward Religion–State Cooperation in the Sphere of Developmental Social Welfare Faith-Based Organizations on the Ground and the Required Reorientations for Doing Social Welfare Under the Post-1994 Cooperationist Religion–State Model Faith-Based Organizations and the Challenge of Developmental Social Welfare in Democratic South Africa: Some Concluding Observations Notes 6 Evolutionary Effectiveness of Faith-Based Organizations' Public Agency in Kenya Background and Context Purpose and Significance of the Study Precolonial Contribution of Religious Actors in Kenya’s Development Contribution of Faith-Based Organizations in Kenya’s Development During the Colonial Period Contribution of Faith-Based Organizations in Kenya’s Development During the Postcolonial Era Faith-Based Organizations and Constitutional Review Faith-Based Organizations and Social Welfare Contributions to the Health Sector Education and Social Assistance Conclusions Notes 7 From Prominence to Derision? Chile’s Religious Actors Confront a Turning Point in Their Social Welfare Roles Chile in Comparative Perspective The Development of Faith-Based Social Welfare Provision in Chile The Objectives of Faith-Based Social Welfare Efforts Strategies for Engaging the Public Square The Impact of Faith-Based Social Welfare Institutions in Chile The Evolution of Public Perception of Faith-Based Institutions Conclusion Notes 8 The Church of the Poor, Civil Society, and Democracy in Southern Mexico: Oaxaca, 1960s–2010s Path Development Objectives, Means, and Strategies of the Catholic Church in Oaxaca: 1960s to 1980s Formal Recognition of Indigenous Rights and the Influence of the Catholic Church The Catholic Church’s Shift in Orientation and the Rise of Church-Inspired Civil Society Organizations Beginning in the 1990s Changes in the Political Context and Reaction by the Catholic Church: The “Politics of Recognition” Takes a Step Back Conclusion Notes Part III Societies with Mixed Religious Marketplaces 9 Faith-Based Organizations, Society, and the State in Chad Introduction Religion and the State in Chad: A History of (De-)politization Questions of Welfare and Redistribution Religious Actors, Their Organizations, and Their Modes of Activism Effects in the Social, Religious, and Political Sphere Conclusion Notes 10 Faith-Based Organizations and Social Welfare: Associational Life and Religion in Nigeria Introduction State–Religion Relations in Nigeria: Partnership (Colonial) Phase State–Religion Relations in Nigeria: From Partnership to State Hegemony State–Religion Relations in Nigeria: Weak State–Assertive Religion 1980–Present What Is the Current Religious Make-Up of Nigerian Society? What Do Religious Actors in Nigeria Want? Means and Strategies of Religious Actors in Nigeria’s Public Sphere Health Care (Health Apostolate) Consequences of Religious Organizations Political/Public Activities Political Social Nigerians’ Perceptions of Religion Conclusion: Can Nigeria Survive Without Social Service Contributions of Religious Organizations? Notes 11 Faith-Based Organizations, Society, and the State in Mozambique Introduction The Current Religious Make-Up of Society The Intentions of Religious Actors to Achieve Their Public Agency The Contribution of Religion to Democracy The Role of the State in Security Provision The Role of Religious Actors in Peace-Building The Role of Religion in Conflict and Peace Mitigation Strategy Religious Actors Use to Operate in the Public Square The Contribution of Faith-Based Organizations to Conflict Resolution The Role of Religion in Spiritual Formation The Role of Religion in Economic and Social Barriers The Promotion of Unity and Empathy in Times of Crisis The Role of Religion in Poverty Advocacy The Intended or Unintended Consequences of Religious Actors’ Political/Public Involvement: What Pressures Would Be Brought to State Programs If These Services Were Stopped? The Impact of Religion in Socio-Political and Economic Transformation Conclusion Notes 12 The Contributions of Faith-Based Organizations in Uruguay, the Most Secularized Country in Latin America Path Development The Distribution of Beliefs in Uruguay Objectives Means and Strategies Source of Income Effects Public Perception Some Socio-Political Elements Conclusion Notes Index