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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The rule of law and poverty eradication in Africa
Author:Mukum Mbaku, JohnISNI
Year:2014
Periodical:African and Asian Studies (ISSN 1569-2094)
Volume:13
Issue:4
Pages:530-557
Language:English
Geographic term:Africa
Subjects:poverty
poverty reduction
rule of law
institutions
External link:https://doi.org/10.1163/15692108-12341245
Abstract:Africa's struggle against mass poverty and deprivation is examined using a constitutional political economy approach. It is argued that the failure of many African countries to deal effectively with poverty is due to the fact that since independence, these countries have not been able to engage in democratic constitution making to provide themselves with institutional arrangements that guarantee the rule of law. Such institutions must adequately constrain civil servants and political elites, enhance peaceful coexistence, and provide an enabling environment for the creation of wealth. The process to reconstruct and reconstitute African states has been on going since decolonization. The Arab awakening, which began in North Africa, and the pro-democracy demonstrations of the mid-1980s and early-1990s, are a continuation of this effort to secure the laws and institutions that enhance the creation of wealth and provide an enabling environment for the eventual eradication of poverty. Unless the African countries provide themselves with institutional arrangements that guarantee the rule of law, poverty will remain pervasive. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]
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