Tangled Web of Associational Life: Urban Governance and the Politics of Popular Livelihoods in Nigeria

Drawing on case studies of informal enterprise associations in Christian and Muslim parts of Nigeria, this paper explores the differing ways in which networks of ethnicity, class and religion are used to forge links between dynamic informal organizational systems and formal institutions of government

The Tangled Web of Associational Life

This paper examines how decentralization and informalization are reshaping urban governance in contemporary Africa. By exploring the interface between urban institutional failures and popular organizational solutions, the paper considers how informal goveinformal economy, urban governance, Nigeria, enterprise clusters, civil society

The scramble for Africans: demography, globalisation and Africa’s informal labour markets

Images of an 'African Boom' have presented us with labour markets full of dynamic potential: a declining dependency ratio; low levels of unemployment; and a vibrant middle class. This buoyant view of African labour markets conceals a less encouraging reality of catastrophic youth unemployment and expanding informality. How has the continent known for the world's highest share of informal labour become a beacon of prosperity? This article will explore the reality beneath the outbreak of informal economic optimism, and consider why African labour markets are being painted in such rosy colours

Living with Ebola: Initiatives from below

LSE’s Kate Meagher highlights a local initiative which is providing support to areas devastated by the Ebola virus

Red lines and real choices: media perspectives and the recent London ceasefire marches

Since the Israel-Gaza conflict began, seven massive ceasefire marches have been organized in London, drawing hundreds of thousands of people from across the UK to demand an urgent end to the violence

Protest in a time of monsters: media coverage of the London ceasefire marches

Professor Kate Meagher discusses the series of protest marches in London calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and adherence to international law. She highlights the disparity between the peaceful nature of the marches and their portrayal in mainstream media as extremist gatherings

Africa's COVID-19 statistics highlight bias in excess death modelling

Despite high levels of informality, Africa’s statistics on COVID-19 mortality have been paradoxically low in comparison to countries in the Global North. Examining studies that attribute low counts to poor statistical reporting, Kate Meagher argues that excess death estimates tell us more about the assumptions of the modellers than they do about the realities of COVID-19 in Africa

African paradox or poor numbers?: informality, COVID-19, and the decolonization of statistics

Despite high levels of informality, Africa’s statistics on COVID-19 mortality have been paradoxically low in comparison to countries in the Global North. Examining studies that attribute low counts to poor statistical reporting, Kate Meagher argues that excess death estimates tell us more about the assumptions of the modellers than they do about the realities of COVID-19 in Africa