Transcript African Basis of the Idea of Democracy and Development .

African Basis of Common and Public
Good Ideas for Democracy and
Development in Africa
Critique of Neo-patrimonial
View of African Politics
David Nyaluke,
[email protected]
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN ,10,11, 2011
Who holds the Neo-Patrimonial view
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Eisenstadt (1973)
Clapham, (1985).
Bayart( 1993)
Bratton and Van de Walle, (1997).
Chabal and Diloz ( 1999)
Hyden (2006)
Neo-patrimonial View of African
Politics
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Informal
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Personalized
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Big-man rule
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Nepotistic distribution of Resources
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Violation of democratic norms
IMPLICATIONS
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Corruption is normal
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No accountability –ruler/citizens/subjects
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Instrumental action
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Struggle for survival
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No ideal basis for common and public
good action
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No political community
Why this is the cases
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Continuation from colonial regime
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Beneficial to African elite (Chabal and
Diloz(1999)
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From cultural practice of African precolonial rulers (Bayart, 1993) Hyden, 2006
Critique
The manifestation is not ideal or inevitable
Evidence
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There is resistance to
corruption/irresponsiveness
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Demand for democracy –climax-1990’s
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Deviation from the promise of independence
PROMISE OF INDEPENDENCE
and Basis of Political community
Colonial regime
New state promised
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Unjust and nondemocratic
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Just and democratic
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Laisser faire and
exploitative
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Developmental and
progressive
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Dividing along ethnic
lines
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Unifying nationally
TANZANIA MAINLAND CASE
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Has dominant party system since 1995
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Argument: Explained by adherence to
promise of independence
Method: Historical analytical Narrative