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Thomas Isbell

Person
Post-doctoral research fellow and research assistant at Afrobarometer

Biography

Thomas Isbell is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa (University of Cape Town) as well as a research assistant at Afrobarometer. 

Areas of interest

Language

Publications

Working paper
WP196: Keeping tabs? Perceptions of relative deprivation and political trust in Africa
21 Feb 2023
Working paper
WP191: Only game in town? Inequality and demand for democracy in Africa – a micro perspective
19 Aug 2022
Policy paper
PP78: Questions de fiscalité : Entre moins de légitimité et plus d’évasion ?
2 Feb 2022
Policy paper
PP78: Footing the bill? Less legitimacy, more avoidance mark African views on taxation
2 Feb 2022
Dispatch
AD428: Troubling tax trends: Fewer Africans support taxation, more say people avoid paying
23 Feb 2021
Dispatch
AD428: En Afrique, le soutien à la fiscalité régresse et la perception de l’évasion fiscale croît
23 Feb 2021
Dispatch
AD404: All in this together? Social tensions in the post-Jammeh Gambia
9 Nov 2020
Policy paper
PP68: Corruption crossroads? Rising perceptions of graft weaken citizen trust, threaten Botswana’s democratic standing
28 Aug 2020
Dispatch
AD376: Access to remote-education tools unequal in Kenya; radio best way to reach most
22 Jul 2020
Dispatch
AD370: In Mozambique, strong regional differences mark fear of extremist and election violence
24 Jun 2020
Dispatch
AD370: Em Moçambique, fortes diferenças regionais marcam o medo da violência extremista e eleitoral
24 Jun 2020
Dispatch
AD358: COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa highlights unequal access to services
28 Apr 2020
Dispatch
AD348: Citizen engagement in Gambia: Enough to secure democratic gains?
2 Mar 2020
Dispatch
AD338: The Gambia’s draft Constitution reflects citizens’ preference for term limits, gender quota
27 Jan 2020
Dispatch
AD336: Malgré la perception de libertés croissantes, les Tunisiens manifestent un engagement citoyen limité
17 Jan 2020
Dispatch
AD336: Despite freedoms seen as growing, Tunisians show limited citizen engagement
17 Jan 2020
Dispatch
AD335: Selon les Gabonais, le président, quoique responsable devant la loi et le Parlement, les ignore souvent
3 Jan 2020
Dispatch
AD335: Gabonese say president should be accountable to courts and Parliament, but often ignores both
3 Jan 2020
Dispatch
AD328: Les Guinéens veulent un gouvernement responsable et la limitation des mandats présidentiels
14 Nov 2019
Dispatch
AD328: Guineans want accountable government and presidential term limits
14 Nov 2019
Dispatch
AD327: Despite concerns about electoral commission and conflict, Mauritians value open elections
6 Nov 2019
Dispatch
AD326: Sudanese voice support for elections, accountability, limits on presidential powers
5 Nov 2019
Dispatch
AD323: In eSwatini, citizens doubt benefits of legalizing marijuana, but few would report violations
14 Oct 2019
Dispatch
AD322: Gambians with clear message to government: Focus on service delivery
1 Oct 2019
Dispatch
AD319: Apesar das liberdades, os Cabo-Verdianos estão insatisfeitos com a democracia na pioria do desempenho econômico
4 Sep 2019
Dispatch
AD319: Despite freedoms, Cabo Verdeans dissatisfied with democracy as economic performance worsens
4 Sep 2019
Dispatch
AD318: Batswana report improving gender equality and approve of government efforts
30 Aug 2019
Dispatch
AD310: Services de santé au Togo: Mécontentement croissant face à la performance gouvernementale
26 Jul 2019
Dispatch
AD310: In Togo, inadequate health services feed growing dissatisfaction with government performance
26 Jul 2019
Dispatch
AD306: Pauvreté vécue en hausse: Les Guinéens pessimistes et critiques de la performance gouvernementale
1 Jul 2019
Dispatch
AD306: With lived poverty on the rise, Guineans grow pessimistic, critical of government performance
1 Jul 2019
Dispatch
AD305: Pour les femmes sénégalaises, l’évolution est réelle, quoique variable
28 Jun 2019
Dispatch
AD305: For Senegalese women, advancement is real but uneven
28 Jun 2019
Dispatch
AD297: Ciclones aumentam os desafios de saúde pública em Moçambique
7 May 2019
Dispatch
AD297: Cyclones add to Mozambique’s public health challenges
7 May 2019
Dispatch
AD293: For Sudanese, deep economic discontent underpins mass movement for change
26 Apr 2019
Dispatch
AD291: Limites da igualdade de género: Os Moçambicanos pobres e com menos escolaridade têm menos probabilidade de ver melhorias
4 Apr 2019
Dispatch
AD291: Limits of gender equality: Poor, uneducated Mozambicans less likely to see improvement
4 Apr 2019
Dispatch
AD289: Namibians look to social movement to prompt government action on land reform
29 Mar 2019
Dispatch
AD287: Les Burkinabè perçoivent l’amélioration des soins de santé, mais des disparités sociales et régionales persistent
25 Mar 2019
Dispatch
AD287: Burkinabe see improving health care delivery, but gaps in serving the poor and some regions
25 Mar 2019
Dispatch
AD282: How trustworthy and professional is Togo’s military? Depends on whom you ask
7 Mar 2019
Dispatch
AD281: Almost half of Malawians consider emigration; most-educated are most likely to look overseas
6 Mar 2019
Dispatch
AD278: Tanzanians express strong support for elections, multiparty competition, presidential term limits
12 Feb 2019
Dispatch
AD275: Nigerians support elections and multiparty competition but mistrust electoral commission
6 Feb 2019
Dispatch
AD274: La plupart des Togolais manquent de confiance en la commission électorale et préfèrent une alternative indépendante et technique
28 Jan 2019
Dispatch
AD274: Most Togolese mistrust electoral commission, would prefer non-partisan, technical alternative
28 Jan 2019
Dispatch
AD272: Zambians see progress on education despite persistent inequalities
23 Jan 2019
Dispatch
AD270: Basotho see progress in fight against corruption but fear retaliation if they report incidents
21 Jan 2019
Dispatch
AD267: With elections a year away, Mauritians are increasingly critical of government performance
28 Dec 2018
Dispatch
AD262: Les libertés semblent progresser, mais moins de Maliens soutiennent la liberté de la presse et se sentent libres d’exprimer leur opinion
31 Dec 2018
Dispatch
AD262: Freedoms seen as expanding, but fewer Malians back free media, feel free to speak their minds
5 Dec 2018
Dispatch
AD255: Note to Madagascar’s election winner: Crime, infrastructure, and food insecurity most important issues for government to fix
14 Nov 2018
Dispatch
AD253: Ugandans endorse rule of law, but distrust and perceived corruption mar views on courts
12 Nov 2018
Dispatch
AD250: Ghanaians rely on radio and TV, but support for media freedom drops sharply
6 Nov 2018
Dispatch
AD241: Seven years in, slimmer majority of Kenyans see military action in Somalia as necessary
5 Oct 2018
Dispatch
AD240: Ill-prepared? Health-care service delivery in Zimbabwe
4 Oct 2018
Dispatch
AD239: Basotho support limits on executive power and transparency in use of public information
27 Sep 2018
Dispatch
AD238: Les Togolais tolérants envers (la majorité) des minorités et en faveur de l’égalité des sexes
26 Sep 2018
Dispatch
AD238: Togolese express tolerance toward (most) minorities and support for gender equality
26 Sep 2018
Dispatch
AD236: Au Gabon, les perceptions des élections s’obscurcissent suite à l’affaire de 2016
13 Sep 2018
Dispatch
AD236: In Gabon, views on elections darken in wake of 2016 contest seen as less than free and fair
13 Sep 2018
Dispatch
AD231: One in three Nigerians have considered emigration, most to find economic opportunity
28 Aug 2018
Dispatch
AD230: Citizen engagement in Botswana: Beyond voting, how much interest in participation?
24 Aug 2018
Dispatch
AD228: Batswana support democracy, but satisfaction and perceived freedom of speech decline
9 Aug 2018
Dispatch
AD225: Maurice fort – mais loin d’être parfait – sur l’égalité des genres et la tolérance sociale
3 Aug 2018
Dispatch
AD225: Mauritius strong – but far from perfect – on gender equality and social tolerance
3 Aug 2018
Dispatch
AD221: Despite threat to cocoa and reforestation response, only half of Ivoirians aware of climate change
11 Jul 2018
Dispatch
AD221: Malgré la menace sur le cacao et le reboisement, seulement la moitié des Ivoiriens ont connaissance du changement climatique
11 Jul 2018
Dispatch
AD211: Les Maliens sont divisés sur le rôle de l’Islam et pensent que les politiciens se servent de la religion pour régner
4 Jun 2018
Dispatch
AD219: Perceptions populaires des élections, de l’action publique, et de la démocratie au Mali
4 Jul 2018
Dispatch
AD219: Popular perceptions of elections, government action, and democracy in Mali
4 Jul 2018
Dispatch
AD214: « Paradis devient rocailleux »: Les Mauriciens perçoivent le changement climatique comme une menace à la qualité de vie
19 Jun 2018
Dispatch
AD214: ‘Paradise is getting rocky’: Mauritians see climate change as threat to quality of life
19 Jun 2018
Dispatch
AD213: Zambians see corruption rising, government failing in anti-graft fight
11 Jun 2018
Dispatch
AD211: Malians split on role of Islam in country, but majority feel politicians use religion to rule
4 Jun 2018
Dispatch
AD205: Basotho increasingly favour legalizing dual citizenship, unifying with South Africa
15 May 2018
Dispatch
AD196: Who’s watching? Voters seen as key in holding elected officials accountable
22 Mar 2018
Dispatch
AD188: Distincts mais compatibles? Islam et démocratie dans cinq pays d’Afrique du Nord
14 Feb 2018
Dispatch
AD188: Separate and compatible? Islam and democracy in five North African countries
14 Feb 2018
Dispatch
AD183: Kenyans say climate change affecting personal lives and country
10 Jan 2018
Dispatch
AD182: Election quality: Ugandans skeptical of electoral commission, back reforms to gain transparency
8 Jun 2022
Policy paper
PP43: Tax compliance Africans affirm civic duty but lack trust in tax department
4 Dec 2017
Dispatch
AD176: Malawians increasingly cautious about exercising right to ‘free’ political speech
29 Nov 2017
Dispatch
AD151: As Liberia’s election approaches, what will citizens be looking for in their next government?
9 Jun 2017
Dispatch
AD155: Le Burkina post-2014: La préférence pour la vérité plutôt que l’oubli mise à l’épreuve
27 Jun 2017
Policy paper
PP41: Efficacy for fighting corruption: Evidence from 36 African countries
10 Jul 2017
Dispatch
AD161: Building bridges? Cape Verdeans value regional ties, U.S. model, China’s influence
18 Aug 2017
Dispatch
AD162: Pratiques perçues de copinage: Les sociétés secrètes, l’ethnicité, et la région stimulent-elles les carrières au Cameroun?
6 Sep 2017
Dispatch
AD163: Burundi’s national land commission: How fairly does it resolve land disputes?
13 Sep 2017
Dispatch
AD163: La commission nationale des terres du Burundi: Résout-elle les conflits fonciers avec équité?
13 Sep 2017
Dispatch
AD144: A price worth paying? How Sudanese balance human rights and the pursuit of security
8 Jun 2022
Dispatch
AD140: Algerians’ darkening outlook on economy and democracy predates recent anti-austerity protests
21 Apr 2017
Dispatch
AD139: Um voto de desconfiança? Os Moçambicanos ainda votam, mas a fé na democracia está a diminuir
20 Apr 2017
Dispatch
AD139: A no-confidence vote? Mozambicans still vote, but faith in democracy is slipping
20 Apr 2017
Dispatch
AD138: Digging a future? Citizens see positive impact of mining in Madagascar
18 Apr 2017
Dispatch
AD137: Rejoining the AU, Moroccans bring decidedly mixed attitudes toward regional integration
28 Mar 2017
Dispatch
AD136: Senegal’s corruption court seen as building trust in government, but credibility weakened by bias
27 Mar 2017
Dispatch
AD133: A second spring for democracy in post-Mubarak Egypt? Findings from Afrobarometer
8 Jun 2022
Dispatch
AD132: Das pessoas, para as pessoas? Atitudes para a partilha da receita dos recursos em Moçambique
21 Feb 2017
Dispatch
AD132: Of the people, for the people? Attitudes toward sharing of resource revenues in Mozambique
21 Feb 2017
Policy paper
PP37: Are Africans willing to pay higher taxes or user fees for better health care?
27 Dec 2016
Dispatch
AD127: Winds of change? Attitudes toward renewable energy policy in Mauritius
1 Dec 2016