[afro-nets] Eliminating world poverty: making governance work forthe poor (24)

["George Kent" <kent@hawaii.edu>]

Eliminating world poverty: making governance work forthe poor (24)
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Dabesake, I agree that democracy has been over-sold. Certainly the idea of democracy-based-on-majority-voting is overrated. True democracy is, as you say, about giving people the opportunity to freely express themselves.

My impression is that China is blossoming economically now because it has given up all ideological fixations, and instead simply pursues whatever works. I call them "devout pragmatists".

African countries have had more than their share of bad leaders. Can we find a way to make sure that the people in general have a stronger voice in the selection of their leaders and in the shaping of policy in general?  How would that work?

I suspect that one key element would be placing local communities at the center of governance. Strong communities are one of Africa's greatest assets, but it is one that is basically invisible and unaccounted for by western-trained development economists and policy analysts.

Aloha, George
mailto:kent@hawaii.edu