Click the star to add/remove an item to/from your individual schedule.
You need to be logged in to avail of this functionality.

Accepted Paper:

Re-evaluating Development Policy in Ghana and Kenya: The Significance of Technocratic Logic  
Miatta Fahnbulleh (London School of Economics)

Paper long abstract:

The post-independence period (c.1960-80) saw a transition from economic growth to crisis in much of Sub-Saharan Africa. Conventional wisdom maintains that this shift was in large part a product of poor policies and state failure. The overall conclusions that have emerged from the African policy debate have led to the characterisation of the African state as institutionally deficient. The perception of the state as a 'rent-seeker' or as the instrument of 'self-interested coalition', have reinforced the perceived incapacity of the African state to engage in effective development policy. Through a comparison of Ghana and Kenya, this paper provides an alternative perspective on the post-independence state. Specifically, by exploring the role of the technocracy - often marginalised within this debate - my paper questions the pessimism that too often overshadows the discourse on state policy.

The relative influence of the technocracy had a profound impact upon the effectiveness of post-independence policies. In Kenya, the dominance of technocratic logic throughout this period resulted in impressive growth and rapid industrial development. However in Ghana, the prevalence of technocratic influence was chequered, translating into a far more turbulent economic history. Nevertheless, the paper argues that what is striking in both countries is the dynamism and responsiveness of development policies. Policy makers were often conscious of the shortcomings of their development strategy and sought to devise counter policies to resolve these. Although mistakes were made - an unavoidable aspect of policy making in any country - there was a greater level of self-consciousness within these African states than has hitherto been acknowledged.

Panel C1
Papers
  Session 1