THE ZELEZA POST REVIEW
During the last two decades and more, African academics and others who conduct research on Africa, policy makers, the media, representatives of the international community, non-government organizations, and ordinary Africans have discussed, debated, and researched the intersection of democratic and economic reform and good governance for the African continent. These same actors, along with others have grappled with the meanings, interpretations, and expectations of democratic reform and good governance that would encompass respect for human rights and the rule of law. At the same time, the urgency of Africa’s economic development could not be ignored as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) attempted to whip the continent into economic shape by imposing harsh structural adjustment programs (SAPs) and making good governance a condition for receiving aid. Except for a few diehard believers in the full belly thesis, that included some African leaders, most Africans and others believed that democratic reform and good governance should not take a back seat to economic development and poverty alleviation. The fifteen contributors of this edited volume are supporters of this perspective.
The editor, Muna Nudlo, provides a very clear introductory chapter in which the main theme of the book is addressed, e.g., good governance accompanied by respect for the rule of law and human rights must undergird economic development in order for poverty to be alleviated in Africa. He provides a succinct exploration of the various meanings and interpretations of the rule of law and its role “in nation building, the promotion of good governance, and the protection of human rights” (p. 1). In sum, he argues for a liberal democratic form of government where duties and responsibilities of the various levels of government (executive, judicial, and legislative) are outlined in a constitution. Individuals should have the freedoms associated with a liberal democracy that include freedom of speech, press, and association. In addition, the state should protect individuals’ property rights, provide due process under the law for all, and distribute public goods. Finally, the government has the major responsibility to foster economic development. He summarizes each chapter in his outline of the book which readers, especially students will find very useful.
Some of the authors provide the usual dire descriptions of Africa and Africans by highlighting the decrease in life expectancy, high rates of HIV/AIDS infections, and stagnating or declining gross domestic products, civil wars, along with corrupt leaders who are bent on remaining in power (chapter two; chapter three; chapter 11). Moreover, they provide very convincing arguments that in order for Africa to achieve economic development, governments, institutions, and civil society must provide an inclusive space for all who want to participate and have their voices heard. They illuminate the important role of civil society in the establishment and maintenance of democratic reform, good governance, and the elimination of poverty in Africa. To emphasize this essential point, chapter six by Peter Takirambudde and Kate Fletcher make a strong argument for the importance of human rights and they contend “poverty alleviation efforts cannot be successful in the long term without respect for human rights...and with unaccountable government, poverty will continue” (p. 68). Johann Kriegler also points out the vital role that civil society must play in improving Africa’s economic outlook (chapter two). Furthermore, he advances the argument that economic development and poverty alleviation must be driven and guided by Africans within Africa. Joel Barkan (chapter three) also pays attention to the role of civil society but he is quick to point out that African civil society needs to be strengthened and extended to the rural areas. Chapters twelve and thirteen deal with two particular components within civil society: legal service organizations and the media respectively. These are two very important chapters because they describe and analyze how both of these entities can be used provide the poor in particular with much needed advice, support, representation, and information in terms of their legal, citizenship, and human rights which are all important if everyone is to participate in and contribute to good governance and democracy.
Chapters five and fourteen address constitutions in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Penelope Andrews’ chapter (five) argues that the South African constitution provides a full range of social and economic rights to its citizens and the constitutional courts should uphold these rights in an effort to alleviate poverty. She uses two court cases to support her argument: one is on the right to health care and the other is on the right to housing. While South Africa has one of the world’s most progressive constitutions, Zimbabwe, according to Reginald Austin continues its decades long struggle “to develop a constitution that consolidates democratic rule and good governance and enjoys the allegiance and support of all Zimbabweans” (p. 212).
Chapters nine and fifteen address important African institutions that have played and can continue to play under the right circumstances and with enough political will crucial roles in establishing, maintaining, and upholding good governance and democracy—the Human Rights Commission in Commonwealth Africa, the Organization for African Unity (OAU), the African Union (AU), and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). In chapter four, Ann Seidman and Robert Seidman examine the inability of African institutions following independence to bring about economic development and the failure of African leaders to use the law to transform society through government institutions.
Chapters seven, eight, and ten address aspects of reform. Muna Ndulo in chapter seven advances the argument with caution that decentralization/devolution as a governmental reform can be an important aspect of good governance and democracy as long as it does not lead to cleavages in society based on region, ethnicity, and other factors. In chapter eight, Tsatsu Tsikata, uses Ghana as a case study to examine the intersection of economic and democratic reforms. He demonstrates that Ghana, as early as 1982, was able to make significant economic reforms on its own before the IMF and World Bank imposed SAPs. Moreover, these economic reforms were part and parcel of democracy because they were designed to empower the rural households, especially the cocoa farmers who undergirded the country’s economy. Finally, chapter ten by Brian Levy explores the sustainability of economic reforms by examining economic and governmental data from twenty-one countries in East, West, and Southern Africa, along with one island country—Madagascar. No countries from North Africa were included.
Chapter eleven by Colleen Lowe-Morna stands alone because it is the only one that provides a gendered analysis of good governance, democracy, and poverty alleviation—all three cannot be accomplished without the equal representation of women. She demonstrates that women in several African countries have made significant progress in their efforts to gain representation in parliaments. However, they face many obstacles along the way and after they are elected, they must work within institutions that are not always “women friendly.”
One critique of the book is found in its title: Democratic Reform in Africa. The book leaves out all of North Africa and continues with the tradition of focusing on “sub-Saharan” Africa. Democratic reforms and good governance or lack thereof and the intersection of poverty alleviation in countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, etc. would have made a valuable contribution to the literature, especially for students who continue to associate corruption, poverty, and lack of economic and political development solely to “sub-Saharan” Africa. Furthermore, the book would have more value to students and researchers if it included some discussion on the economic and democratic reforms in Central Africa and the Horn of Africa. Finally, because this book contained fifteen chapters that ranged from economic and democratic reforms in Ghana to the role of the media and legal services in achieving democracy and promoting human rights to alleviate poverty, this reader would have found a concluding chapter useful.
Cassandra R. Veney, University of Illinois at Chicago
