Asian ‘Developmental’ States: Lessons for Africa

Authors : Oscar Edoror Ubhenin

Pages : 7-42

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Publication Date : 2014-08-01

Article Type : Research

Abstract :Perhaps the most destructive aspects of African governance are found in economic mismanagement. African states’ interventions in the preadjustment era turned out to be terribly bad both in agriculture and in industry. This is in stark contrast with the extraordinary success of the ‘developmental’ states of East and Southeast Asia. While the latter pursued a political strategy of rising living standards, achieved through prioritizing growth, productivity, competitiveness and human capital investment, the former sought to manage political competition through distribution of state consumption. Available literature, notwithstanding, no systematic attempt has been made to investigate how the Asian ‘developmental’ states can reasonably factor into the solution to Africa’s ‘development woes’. Based upon review of published literature, reports and articles, this article argues, amongst others, that lack of strong bureaucracy is responsible for Africa’s ‘dysfunctional’ state. As a result, it has been difficult for the continent to transit to a ‘developmental’ state.
Keywords : Africa, Asia, developmental state, governance, poverty reduction