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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Beyond governance: the State and democratization in sub-Saharan Africa |
Author: | Ihonvbere, Julius O. |
Year: | 1995 |
Periodical: | Journal of Asian and African Studies (Tokyo) |
Issue: | 50 |
Pages: | 141-158 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Subsaharan Africa |
Subjects: | political systems democracy |
Abstract: | Since the end of the Cold War, Western powers that had earlier supported dictators and brutal governments have been making new demands on their former allies. Good governance became part of the package of political conditionalities imposed on Third World leaders by lenders, donors, and creditors as a precondition for further economic support. The author focuses attention on the limits of the governance agenda for Africa. He argues that the greatest defect of the 'good governance' prescription is that it addresses the symptoms of the African predicament rather than the structural causes. 'Good governance' redirects attention away from the nature and role of the State. The postcolonial State is a continuation of the colonial State, remaining as interventionist, exploitative, and repressive as its predecessor. It is therefore inappropriate to expect good governance, transparency, social harmony, respect for human rights, adherence to the rule of law, and political stability in social formations presided over by weak and nonhegemonic elites. To move beyond this situation, the current State structures in Africa need to be dismantled and recomposed. Moreover, Africa must proceed along the path of empowering the people, their organizations, and communities. Bibliogr. |