Undermining the political logic of African governments' poor economic policies

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Periodical article

Title:	Undermining the political logic of African governments' poor economic policies
Author:	Tarr, S.B.
Year:	1992
Periodical:	Genève-Afrique: acta africana
Volume:	30
Issue:	1
Pages:	9-34
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Africa
Subjects:	patronage economic policy
Abstract:	This paper argues that the patron-client political culture in Africa has had a destructive effect on African development. During the period of the first postindependence generation, African political culture was inspired by the seeming necessity of maintaining power rather than promoting well-being, often at the cost of economic decline. Recently, circumstances forcing the introduction of multiparty democracy in Africa seem destined to enhance the development of African economies. After an outline of the development of patronage politics in Africa, the paper shows that the poor economic policies of African governments have a political logic. It then comments on the technical weaknesses of the models which have informed successive development strategies and led to their failure. Finally it argues that the domestic political transformations currently taking place in Africa should be supported by external actors such as international financial institutions and donor agencies. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English, French and German.