“the developmental state in africa (and elsewhere): the lessons for south africa” louis a....
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“The Developmental State in Africa (and Elsewhere): The Lessons for South Africa”
Louis A. Picard
University of Pittsburgh
USA
SOURCE:
Louis A. Picard
The State of the State: Institutional Transformation, Capacity and Political Change in South Africa
(Johannesburg: Wits University Press, 2005)
Next Two Books
The State Transformed: Negotiations, Liberalism and Democracy in South Africa
States within the State: Provinces, Local Government and Governance in South Africa
Both Books to be Published by Wits University Press as part of the P&DM series on Governance.
Biography
Louis A. Picard is Professor in the Division of International Development of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs of the University of Pittsburgh in the USA and is Visiting Research Professor at the Graduate School of Public and Development Management (P&DM) of the University of Witwatersrand. He has studied African Politics since 1965 and has focused on the South African transition for more than twenty years. His other area of interest is Foreign Aid Policy.
Research Themes
1. Institutional patterns of Democratic Governance
2. Decentralized Democratic Models
3. Foreign Aid and Technical Assistance
4. Organizational and Institutional Capacity
Book Focus: The Institutional State
The institutional state can be defined as the set of structures and processes;
including the public service, the nature of intra-governmental social relationships, and internal organizational dynamics;
which—though it evolves over time—is a permanent part of the dynamics of government.
Governance: an Overview of Issues
Basic Term: The Environment of Development
Governance
Manner in which the state is created, modified or overthrown
Ways in Which Decisions are Made and Implemented
Governance is a Process not a Structure
Tentative Universal Governance Functions
1. Governance- Legal, Expected Roles, Intra-state Relationships;
2. Governance and Markets- Debates about Command Economies
3. Governance and Social Service Delivery
Principles of Governance
1. Provision of Goods and Services (including law and security)
2. Difference between Provision and Production (Implications of Exchange Theory for Contracting)
3. Types of Goods
The Need for Implementation in Governance
The Institutional State- Societal vs. Individual or group interests
Structures and Processes of government beyond patronage and Crony Capitalism
Made up of Human and Structural (Organizational) Dynamics
Goal: Formal Rules, Common Values and Standard Modes of Behavior
Governance and Service Delivery
Factors of Size, Difficulty and Normative Values- User Fees vs. Taxes and Cross-Subsidization
Key Value: Public vs. Private- Basis of Human Judgment
Goal: Matching Provision with Nature of Goods and Value Systems of Communities
Debate: Contracting vs. Direct Delivery
Types of Democracy- Terms
Direct Democracy-
Actual direct participation of a population in decision-making about laws and regulations
Town hall or village model
Village meeting (Baraza or Kgotla)
Use of Referendum and Recall
Types of Democracy: Terms
Indirect Democracy-Representation
Some form of representative democracy
Hallmark of Modern Government
Existence of various diverse interest associations and groups within society
Discussion One
If a citizen asks “Is South Africa a ‘True’ Democracy?” how should one respond?
How appropriate are South African governance institutions for development?
Factors Influencing Governance
1. Imperial Legacies
2. Political Culture, Social Values and Governance
3. Contemporary External Influences (Foreign Aid)
4. Informal and Parallel Functions of Governance
Factor 1: World Wide Legacy of Imperial Rule: A Mini-Comparison
Land Based- Austria, Germany, Russia, Ottoman Empires
Overseas- Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, etc.
Western Hemisphere Dominance
Japan vs. China
The Legacy of the Colonial State in Africa
1. Patron-Client State System and Corporate Group Interests
2. Unpredictable and “soft” but centralized system of governance
3. An administratively based local state which precludes local level decision-making (Prefect or Commissioner)
4. Authoritarian Control Mechanisms
Factor 2: Political Culture, Social Values and Governance
Secular vs. Religious Tendencies “Ethnic” Values Nation-States vs. Dominant vs. Minority,
Multiple Nation States, Spillover Nation States
Nature of Democratic vs. Hierarchical Values
Values, Ideology and State
Factor 3: External Assistance: Globalization Constraints Debates about Public vs. Private Sector (SAPS)
Failure of Growth and Distribution (Limits of Economic Development)
Merging of Governance and Security Focus
“Soft” vs. “Hard” Donors
Multi-lateral Regimes (World Bank System)
Integration vs. Autonomous Development
Factor 4: Parallel Governance and Non-Formal Systems
1. Persistent- traditional, religious leadership
2. Adaptive- non-formal transportation systems
3. Reactive- Religious, ethnic networks
4. Intermediation- Civic Groups
Discussion Two
DOES (OR CAN) FOREIGN AID PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT?
Do Parallel Institutions contribute to Development?
South Africa: 1994-2006 Three Tasks: Defined by SA Government
The Development of a Non-racial state and public service
The Development of a balance between the private and public sector that could meet the country’s overwhelming social needs
The Creation of a Policy Making process that could plan, coordinate and manage economic development
The Problem
The Poor Record of Development State Efforts in much of Africa
The Nature of Global Political Economy
Debates About Service Delivery and Transformation
The Future of the Developmental State?
The South African Legacy
1.Historical Debates- Charterism and Non-Racialism
2. Legacy of Negotiations- Job Guarantees and Provincial Capacity
3. Civil Service Reform- Limits of Reorganization
Measuring Capacity in South Africa
1. The Priority Given to Human Resource Development?
2. The Impact of Corruption and Patronage
3. To Reform or Not to Reform Higher Education
4. Salaries, Group Interests and Privileges
The Dilemmas of Human Resource Development (HRD) and Service Delivery
1. Training and Education
2. Short Term vs. Long Term Investment
3. Bounded Knowledge and Bridging Training
4. Generic vs. Value Based Skills Development
Governance Issues
Focus on Provincial and Local Government
The Role of Intermediate Government
Local Government: Primary unit of government that has both political leadership and bureaucratic structures
Historical Legacy1. “Homeland” administrations and the Eastern
Transvaal administration;
2. Vested Interests During the Apartheid Period
3. Capacity Limitations and the State of the Province?
4. Debates about Provincial and Local Government
Decentralization and Governance
1. Administrative- Delegated, Deconcentrated Capacity
2. Fiscal- Extent of Collection and Expenditure of Local Revenue
3. Political- Bottom up- (Primary but not exclusive Focus)
4. Parallel vs. “Layer Cake” Decentralization
South Africa and Decentralized Governance
1. Centralized vs. Devolved Capacity
2. The Role of Provincial Governments
3. Urban vs. Rural Local Government
4. Metropolitan Regions vs. District Councils
5. Successes and Failures in Sub-National Governance
Discussion Questions
1. Affirmative Action: Should focus be on Education vs. Employment in terms of Human Resource Development (HRD) - Trade Off: Capacity to Deliver Services
2. Governance: Should the focus be on Decentralization vs. Central Control
3. Development: Should focus be on State development vs. Market Development
4. Beyond Affirmative Action: The Use of Consultants and Contracting Out