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Regulation, Cross-border Trade and Practical Norms in West Nile, North-Western Uganda

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

Kristof Titeca  and
Tom de Herdt
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Abstract

This article describes how cross-border trade in West Nile, north-western Uganda to a large extent takes place outside of the legal framework. This does not mean that this trade is unregulated. We make use of the concept of ‘practical norms’ to show the existence of regulation within this trade, which diverges both from official norms and social norms (‘moral economy’). The article describes how these practical norms emerged and how they are enforced. First, it is shown how the moral economy of cross-border trade plays an important role in their articulation. Second, we ask which practical concerns play a role in sustaining these norms and how deviations from them activate open power struggles. And third, we show how concrete events have played a role in their emergence.

Résumé

Cet article décrit la manière dont le commerce transfrontalier se déroule dans une large mesure en dehors du cadre juridique dans la région du Nil occidental située au Nord-Ouest de l'Ouganda. Ceci ne veut pas dire que ce commerce n'est pas réglementé. L'article utilise le concept de « normes pratiques » pour montrer l'existence d'une réglementation, au sein de ce commerce, qui diverge à la fois des normes officielles et des normes sociales (« économie morale »). Il décrit l'émergence de ces normes pratiques et leur mise en oeuvre. Tout d'abord, il montre le rôle important que joue l'économie morale du commerce transfrontalier dans leur articulation. Ensuite, il étudie les préoccupations pratiques qui jouent un rôle dans le maintien de ces normes et les luttes de pouvoir ouvertes que déclenche le non-respect de ces normes. Enfin, il montre le rôle qu'ont joué des événements concrets dans leur émergence.

Type
Articles
Information
Africa , Volume 80 , Issue 4 , November 2010 , pp. 573 - 594
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 2010

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