The Democratic Development State

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The 1990s have witnessed the ascendance of a new orthodoxy which asserts that democracy and development are mutually reinforcing. This is in marked contrast to the dominant consensus that held sway for the previous two decades, which stated that developmental progress in poor societies was best assured by strong states, ruled by authoritarian regimes. Today, however, many new democracies are illiberal, non-participatory, and characterized by enormous inequalities. Developmental democracy cannot therefore be regarded as an assured outcome of a simultaneous process of economic and political liberalization. The central inquiry of this important new study concerns the extent to which it is possible to strive towards a new form of developmental state that can promote broad-based and equitable development in the context of legitimized, inclusive democracy. The argument running through this book is that there is scope for continuous political intervention in the design of democratic institutions that shape the context of state-led development initiatives. Institutional arrangements which foster political participation, the dispersion of political power, and increased representation by women and other disadvantaged groups can make democratic regimes more sensitive to issues of poverty, social welfare, and gender discrimination through remedial action and policy commitments. Oxford Studies in Demcratization is a series for scholars and students of comparative politics and related disciplines. Volumes will concentrate on the comparative study of the democratization processes that accompanied the decline and termination of the cold war. The geographical focus of the series will primarily be Latin America, the Caribbean, Southern and Eastern Europe, and relevant experiences in Africa and Asia. The Series Editor is Laurence Whitehead.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction
• Part I The Democratic Developmental State
• 1 Constructing a Democratic Developmental State
• 2 Forms of the Democratic Developmental State: Democratic Practices and Development Capacity
• 3 Death Without Taxes: Democracy, State Capacity, and Aid Dependence in the Fourth World
• Part II Political Institutions and Social Forces
• 4 Democratization and the Developmental State: The Search for Balance
• 5 Democracy, Participation, and Public Policy: The Politics of Institutional Design
• 6 The Developmental Implications of Federal Political Institutions in India
• 7 Democratic Institutions and Development in Post-Apartheid South Africa
• Part III Deepening Democracy
• 8 Fiddling with Democracy: Translating Women's Participation in Politics in Uganda and South Africa into Gender-Equity in Development Practice
• 9 Democratization and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods
• 10 Are There Alternatives to Liberal Democracy?

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

These essays and case studies, authored mostly by scholars associated with the Institute of Development Studies, Univ. of Sussex (UK), explore the relationship between development and democracy and are animated by the conviction that markets and democracy are not necessarily complementary. The expansion of capitalism has resulted in increased inequalities, while the shift toward democratic practices has often exacerbated corruption, fostered political instability, and led to weak state regulation. The authors believe that social democracy rather than liberal democracy should guide the political evolution of developing nations, claiming that sustained and equitable growth in the context of "accountable and inclusive political society" requires government intervention. Their model, the "democratic developmental state," and much of the book explore how government policies might contribute to both political and economic development. Despite the authors' confidence in statist practices, they fail to illuminate how a stronger, more centralized regime can create a more humane, less corrupt, and more inclusive society in Third World nations. The arguments for a strong developmental state would have been more persuasive if greater attention had been paid to the growing impact of globalization, the increasing role of nongovernmental actors, and the role of morality and political culture in sustaining development. Recommended for large, specialized libraries, and for graduate students and faculty. M. Amstutz; Wheaton College