Of all the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, Botswana is unique because of its
uninterrupted electoral democracy for over the past four decades. It has
widely been acclaimed as the oldest, one of the most successful examples of an open, transparent democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa, and a hopeful model for other African countries to follow. While the country has done comparatively well in sticking to its democratic agenda, the development and institutionalization of political parties remain a major challenge to democratic consolidation in Botswana. The paper that follows examines some of the major obstacles to democratic consolidation in Botswana.
Robert M Molebatsi, in the paper, “Political Parties and Democratic Consolidation in Botswana: Challenges and Opportunities”, argues that the development and institutionalization of political parties remain a major challenge to democratic consolidation in Botswana. The author uses the example of the three major political parties to show the lack of institutionalization and examines a number of factors that work against the development and institutionalization of political parties in Botswana. The author concludes that in order to establish deep democratic practices, there is a need for building sustainable democratic parties.
Prebendalism refers to the practice of utilizing official positions by public officeholders for selfish personal gains. Barrister Okeke V O S and Ugwuanyi, Bartholomew Ikechukwu, in the paper, “Prebendalism as an Albatross to Democratic Practice and National Development in Nigeria: A Critical Discourse”, critically examine the issue of prebendalism in Nigerian politics and governance, and analyze the implications of prebendalism on the conduct of democratic elections, effective representation and the overall national development. Political offices in Nigeria have rather become more of the primary means of gaining access to personal wealth or to indirectly benefit political masters or groups and less for state service. The authors recommend the use of public offices purely for the interest of the citizens and for effective administration of national development and overall good governance to control the prebendal menance.
Brijesh N Mehrish, in the paper, “China as a Factor in Japan-India Relations”, analyzes the role of China in Japan-India relations and examines the factors responsible for tensions between China and Japan and also China and India. The author discusses the growing strategic collaboration between India and Japan. Both Japan and India are concerned about the rising power of China in Asia. According to the author, to counter China’s dominance, both Japan and India should build strategic and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Laurent Metzger, in the paper, “The Afghan Community in Kelantan: A Preliminary Survey”, discusses the arrival and the settling of Afghan community in Kelantan of Peninsular Malaya after World War I. The author attempts to unravel how the said community came to two northern states of Peninsular Malaya and how they were first received by the local population as well as by the authorities. The author also tries to address several issues pertaining to the Afghan community which settled in Kelantan.
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs): The Changing Face of Banking in India
Bank Management
Information and communication technology has changed the way in which banks provide services to its customers. These days the customers are able to perform their routine banking transactions without even entering the bank premises. ATM is one such development in recent years, which provides remote banking services all over the world, including India. This paper analyzes the development of this self-service banking in India based on the secondary data.
The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is playing a very important role in the progress and advancement in almost all walks of life. The deregulated environment has provided an opportunity to restructure the means and methods of delivery of services in many areas, including the banking sector. The ICT has been a focused issue in the past two decades in Indian banking. In fact, ICTs are enabling the banks to change the way in which they are functioning. Improved customer service has become very important for the very survival and growth of banking sector in the reforms era. The technological advancements, deregulations, and intense competition due to the entry of private sector and foreign banks have altered the face of banking from one of mere intermediation to one of provider of quick, efficient and customer-friendly services. With the introduction and adoption of ICT in the banking sector, the customers are fast moving away from the traditional branch banking system to the convenient and comfort of virtual banking. The most important virtual banking services are phone banking, mobile banking, Internet banking and ATM banking. These electronic channels have enhanced the delivery of banking services accurately and efficiently to the customers. The ATMs are an important part of a bank’s alternative channel to reach the customers, to showcase products and services and to create brand awareness. This is reflected in the increase in the number of ATMs all over the world. ATM is one of the most widely used remote banking services all over the world, including India. This paper analyzes the growth of ATMs of different bank groups in India.
International Scenario
If ATMs are largely available over geographically dispersed areas, the benefit from using an ATM will increase as customers will be able to access their bank accounts from any geographic location. This would imply that the value of an ATM network increases with the number of available ATM locations, and the value of a bank network to a customer will be determined in part by the final network size of the banking system. The statistical information on the growth of branches and ATM network in select countries.
Indian Scenario
The financial services industry in India has witnessed a phenomenal growth, diversification and specialization since the initiation of financial sector reforms in 1991. Greater customer orientation is the only way to retain customer loyalty and withstand competition in the liberalized world. In a market-driven strategy of development, customer preference is of paramount importance in any economy. Gone are the days when customers used to come to the doorsteps of banks. Now the banks are required to chase the customers; only those banks which are customercentric and extremely focused on the needs of their clients can succeed in their business today.
