The central role that effective governance plays in the economic and social development of a country is widely recognized. Using the example of the Commonwealth countries of eastern and southern Africa, this book analyzes the key issues in the process of developing, strengthening and consolidating the state's capacity to ensure the effective governance of its peoples. The book draws attention to the problems of constitutionalism and critically addresses legal issues involved in making constitutions "work" in practice.

Democratic reform in Africa has been slow, difficult, and at times painful. Nevertheless, sufficient time has passed for those interested in political and economic development to assess what progress, if any, Africa has made in addressing the need for the consolidation of democratic reform and the resolution of considerable developmental challenges. Economic aid and other forms of financial assistance are progressively conditioned on good governance. Accordingly, African states in the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) have devised standards for economic and political governance....

Democratic reform in Africa has been slow, difficult, and at times painful. Nevertheless, sufficient time has passed for those interested in political and economic development to assess what progress, if any, Africa has made in addressing the need for the consolidation of democratic reform and the resolution of considerable developmental challenges. Economic aid and other forms of financial assistance are progressively conditioned on good governance. Accordingly, African states in the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) have devised standards for economic and political governance....

Wars weaken the authority of the state, breed insecurity, and erode institutions of civil society. Post-conflict societies are characterized by lack of respect for the rule of law, gross human rights violations, impunity, and economic devastation and decay. The end of the conflict does not automatically bring peace, security and an end to violence. Countries emerging from conflict will almost always need to depend upon the international community to varying degrees for resources (financial, technical, and human), in order to conduct effective reconciliation, institution building and...

The central role that effective governance plays in the economic and social development of a country is widely recognized. Using the example of the Commonwealth countries of eastern and southern Africa, this book analyzes the key issues in the process of developing, strengthening and consolidating the state's capacity to ensure the effective governance of its peoples. The book draws attention to the problems of constitutionalism and critically addresses legal issues involved in making constitutions "work" in practice.

This work examines the interrelationship between governance and poverty alleviation in Africa and the impact of democratic reform on this relationship. There has been a new approach to the question of governance in Africa on the part of the international community. Economic aid and other forms of financial assistance are conditional on good governance. African states themselves in the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) have recognized good governance as a precondition to development. They have devised standards for economic and political governance. Democratic reform in Africa...

This book is an anthology of essays contributing new scholarship to the contemporary discourse on the concept of aid. It provides an interdisciplinary investigation of the role of aid in African development, compiling the work of historians, political scientists, legal scholars, and economists to examine where aid has failed and to offer new perspectives on how aid can be made more effective. Questions regarding the effectiveness of aid are addressed here using specific case studies. The question of ownership is examined in the context of two debates: 1) to what extent should aid be designed...

In light of the opportunities and the challenges facing African economies in the 21st century, this edited volume traces the evolution of poverty in the course of economic development in sub-Saharan Africa over the recent decades. By engaging with, and seeking to develop on, the work of Professor Erik Thorbecke, it examines the evolving dynamics of poverty in multiple dimensions. It also discusses how to lay down foundations for improved governance and institutions that will realize inclusive development in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, the volume contributes to our understanding of dynamics of...