Divine kingship of Asante: a model for sustainable development of self and community

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Date
MAY 2016
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Abstract
This thesis is predicated on these objectives: to study the nature and history of Asante divine kingship; investigate whether the kingship is a model for sustainable political, social and economic development of self and community and of the environment of Asante; whether the kingship’s administrative principles provide adequate philosophy and training for Asante and other political leaders to address the political challenges of Asante and the rest of the world. Assumptions were made to make the researcher focus on these objectives. The research questions include why is the kingship a model for sustainable political, social and economic development of self and community, and of the environment in Asante? Do the kingship administrative principles provide adequate philosophy and training for Asante and other political leaders to address the political challenges facing the world? The research design is mainly phenomenological and descriptive. Random and nonrandom sampling techniques were employed to select a sample size of 300 from a population of a little more than 4,000,000 people. However, 275 people responded to questions. Information was obtained from libraries and the field. The data collection instruments were interviews, questionnaire, and opinionnaire. The data were organized, analyzed and interpreted with the aid of maps, pictures, statistical tables, bar and pie- charts. The findings reveal that the kingship is theocratic. The king is believed to be God’s viceroy. The kingship has existed since the pre-colonial period. It is largely a model for sustainable political, social and economic development of self and community, and of the environment of Asante. But today the environment is being degraded. The kingship’s administrative principles greatly provide adequate philosophy and training for Asante and other political leaders to iv address political challenges facing the world. Advantages and disadvantages emanate from the kingship but the former outweigh the latter. And this thesis is important because it deals with a kingship that largely helps to develop human and environmental resources. Finally, recommendations intended to make the kingship a better model for sustainable political, social and economic development of self and community and of the environment have been made.
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A Dissertation submitted to the School of Graduate Studies Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in African Art and Culture,
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