Journal Articles by Brad Crofford
International Affairs Review, 2015
Youth and technology have frequently been cited as factors that contributed to the so-called “Ara... more Youth and technology have frequently been cited as factors that contributed to the so-called “Arab Spring” uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa. Although few of the uprisings have led to significant positive change, they have nevertheless been disruptive. It is therefore worthwhile to consider the possibility of similar protest contagion in other regions. Sub-Saharan Africa is a region with a large youth population, increasing access to the Internet and mobile phone use, and many countries with few political rights and/or civil liberties. International media sources have thus repeatedly asked whether Sub-Saharan Africa will experience its own version of the Arab Spring.
Journal of Global Affairs, 2015
Water is essential for life, and it has increasingly been recognized in international law as a hu... more Water is essential for life, and it has increasingly been recognized in international law as a human right. Some countries–from Argentina to India–have also started incorporating the right to water into their constitutions. In 2010, Kenya similarly included the right to “clean and safe water in adequate quantities” in its new constitution. However, the recognition of a right does not necessarily lead to its fulfillment. This paper therefore examines the relation of a constitutional right to water and access to water. It first discusses the history of and rationale for the right. It then draws lessons from South Africa’s experience since recognizing the right in its 1996 constitution. Finally, it looks at Kenya’s right to water and the performance of its water system. This paper argues that the effectiveness of Kenya’s constitutional right to water in expanding access will ultimately depend on judicial interpretation of the right, public participation, and amelioration of the country’s flawed water provision framework.
Journal of Global Affairs, 2015
This tripartite investigation looks at several myths that plague the world of international devel... more This tripartite investigation looks at several myths that plague the world of international development and aid: 1) that aid should benefit countries, rather than merely individuals, 2) that aid is something enacted in developing countries, and therefore the domestic policies of developed countries are not relevant, and 3) that free aid is the best way to help the world’s poor.
Journal of Global Affairs, 2014
Although it originated in Africa, Vodou is often associated in the American public consciousness ... more Although it originated in Africa, Vodou is often associated in the American public consciousness with Haiti. Some serious misconceptions and misrepresentations about Vodou (such as human sacrifice) have shaped Americans’ views of not only the religion, but also the country. This essay argues that perceptions of Haitian Vodou have affected the United States’ policies and actions toward Haiti through a shaping of attitudes. These attitudes, largely based on misconceptions, served as justification for isolating the country, occupying it, and/or treating it paternalistically at various points in time. This essay examines these claims’ perniciousness, persistence, prevalence, and prominence since
Book Reviews by Brad Crofford
World History Connected, 2019
Book review
African Studies Quarterly, 2018
Book review
Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies, 2018
Book review
Political Studies Review, 2017
African Studies Quarterly, 2016
The Journal of Retracing Africa, 2016
African Studies Quarterly, 2015
Book review
Books by Brad Crofford
Religious Freedom, LGBT Rights, and the Prospects for Common Ground, 2018
Book chapter co-authored with Shirley Hoogstra and Shapri LoMaglio
African Nazarenes have crossed borders and learned new languages to share the message of Christ w... more African Nazarenes have crossed borders and learned new languages to share the message of Christ with people near and far. This book tells the stories of Africans who have served as messengers of holiness. The authors encourage us to dream with those whom God calls to missions in Africa and beyond.
An MK's (missionary kid's) perspective of vacation on the mission field.
Magazine Articles by Brad Crofford
NCM Magazine
A four-page magazine article based on my experience shadowing the HIV/AIDS Task Force during a vi... more A four-page magazine article based on my experience shadowing the HIV/AIDS Task Force during a visit to Swaziland in late 2015. (Starts on p. 20 of the linked document)
Working Papers by Brad Crofford
Benin has been a relative oasis of peace in West Africa. A number of potential explanations have ... more Benin has been a relative oasis of peace in West Africa. A number of potential explanations have been put forward to explain its remarkable stability. However, there has been little intersection between these and the extensive literature on traditional religion, particularly Vodun, in Benin. This paper accordingly looks to explore the relations between traditional religion in Benin and the country’s stability.
This paper proposes two ways in which the widespread practice of traditional religion in Benin may contribute to its stability: (1) syncretism could undermine the likelihood of sectarian violence, and (2) a belief in supernatural options could provide an alternative to physical violence. This paper begins by critiquing existing explanations for Benin’s stability. Next, it provides a brief introduction to Vodun in Benin. It then explains the two proposed theoretical mechanisms. Finally, it uses data from Round 5 of the Afrobarometer survey to test the association between traditional religion and violence in Benin.
Vodun is an important religion in Benin, with roots going back to the precolonial kingdom of Danx... more Vodun is an important religion in Benin, with roots going back to the precolonial kingdom of Danxome and persisting to the present day. However, it has at times been treated as backwards, especially during the French colonial regime in the first half of the 20th century and the Marxist-Leninist regime in the 1970s and 1980s. Since the 1990s, however, it has been embraced as an important part of Benin’s cultural heritage.
Differing perspectives on Vodun raise questions about its role in the country’s economic development. This paper begins by briefly introducing Vodun and its role in Beninese society over time. It then examines the religion’s relationship to development at the individual, communal, and national levels. At the individual level, this paper considers the religion’s role in spending, saving, and dealing with redistributive pressure. At the communal level, this paper will examine the effect of Vodun in such areas as public health, the environment, and gender equity in education. Finally, it will discuss the implications of the emphasis on Vodun at the national level for the purposes of tourism. Overall, it finds that the role of Vodun in many of these areas is ambiguous, sometimes supporting and at other times opposing development efforts, most likely due to heterogeneity in the practice of the religion across space and time.
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Journal Articles by Brad Crofford
Book Reviews by Brad Crofford
Books by Brad Crofford
Magazine Articles by Brad Crofford
Working Papers by Brad Crofford
This paper proposes two ways in which the widespread practice of traditional religion in Benin may contribute to its stability: (1) syncretism could undermine the likelihood of sectarian violence, and (2) a belief in supernatural options could provide an alternative to physical violence. This paper begins by critiquing existing explanations for Benin’s stability. Next, it provides a brief introduction to Vodun in Benin. It then explains the two proposed theoretical mechanisms. Finally, it uses data from Round 5 of the Afrobarometer survey to test the association between traditional religion and violence in Benin.
Differing perspectives on Vodun raise questions about its role in the country’s economic development. This paper begins by briefly introducing Vodun and its role in Beninese society over time. It then examines the religion’s relationship to development at the individual, communal, and national levels. At the individual level, this paper considers the religion’s role in spending, saving, and dealing with redistributive pressure. At the communal level, this paper will examine the effect of Vodun in such areas as public health, the environment, and gender equity in education. Finally, it will discuss the implications of the emphasis on Vodun at the national level for the purposes of tourism. Overall, it finds that the role of Vodun in many of these areas is ambiguous, sometimes supporting and at other times opposing development efforts, most likely due to heterogeneity in the practice of the religion across space and time.
This paper proposes two ways in which the widespread practice of traditional religion in Benin may contribute to its stability: (1) syncretism could undermine the likelihood of sectarian violence, and (2) a belief in supernatural options could provide an alternative to physical violence. This paper begins by critiquing existing explanations for Benin’s stability. Next, it provides a brief introduction to Vodun in Benin. It then explains the two proposed theoretical mechanisms. Finally, it uses data from Round 5 of the Afrobarometer survey to test the association between traditional religion and violence in Benin.
Differing perspectives on Vodun raise questions about its role in the country’s economic development. This paper begins by briefly introducing Vodun and its role in Beninese society over time. It then examines the religion’s relationship to development at the individual, communal, and national levels. At the individual level, this paper considers the religion’s role in spending, saving, and dealing with redistributive pressure. At the communal level, this paper will examine the effect of Vodun in such areas as public health, the environment, and gender equity in education. Finally, it will discuss the implications of the emphasis on Vodun at the national level for the purposes of tourism. Overall, it finds that the role of Vodun in many of these areas is ambiguous, sometimes supporting and at other times opposing development efforts, most likely due to heterogeneity in the practice of the religion across space and time.