Aid, Democracy and Political Conditionality in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The late 1980s and early 1990s witnessed far-reaching upheavals in African politics in which the authoritarianism prevailing in many countries came under a concerned challenge from popular movements pressing for greater democracy and accountability. Analysts have sought to account for these developments by examining the role of economic factors, the demonstration effect of the transitions in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, and the domestic political circumstances of individual countries. Increasing attention is also being given to the pressure exerted by foreign aid donors through political conditionality, whereby the provision of development assistance is made conditional on political and administrative reforms, and its contribution to the democratisation process in recipient countries. The expectation of the aid donors is that democracy will bring with it better prospects of sustained economic growth by increasing regime accountability and liberalising the policy making environment (Healey et al., 1993).