POLITICAL SCIENCE

Political Economy of Development

Abstract

Many argue in favour of democracy as a superior form of state over other forms of political and governmental arrangements. They claim that democracy allows for progression and development, where the rights of the citizens are well protected from corrupt, authoritarian or military styles of leadership, propelling the eradication of poverty and improvement of dismal economies. In the case of Nigeria, many of the new “developments” ever since the inauguration of the new democratic state have cast doubt over these presumptions and the governments devotion concerning the issues of poverty, gender and class inequality, human rights etc. This paper is therefore set to investigate in detail the above mentioned issues, in relation to the effect of democracy on development which encompasses the societal, economical and political progression in Nigeria.

Table of Content

Introduction4

History and Development of Democracy in Nigeria5

Reasons for Democracy7

Economic and Financial Condition of Nigeria9

Poverty and Development11

Making of a Democratic Constitution12

Past, Present and Future of Democracy in Nigeria14

Ethnic Tensions Affecting Development16

Franco-Nigerian Relations Affecting Democracy of the State18

Conclusion19

References21

Appendix25

Political Economy of Development

Introduction

A government where all eligible citizens have an equal say in the process of decision making that affect their own lives is known as true democracy. In democracy, all citizens are given an equal chance to participate, either through representatives after they elect them or they participate directly, during the process of developing proposal and laws. It encompasses cultural, social and economical conditions that make equal and free practice possible to facilitate political self-determination. The concepts of democracy and development are entirely intertwined and the most contested in Nigeria with regards to the social and political thought (Bradhan, 1993, pp 45-99). There are various perspectives on these concepts which have been affected by different ideologies, history and experience.

In Nigeria, the past decade or so has played a very important role in terms of democratic development leading to social and economical progress. During these years, Nigeria experienced a transition from a purely military regime, in other words a military dictatorship which had lasted for decades, to a civilian rule. Moreover, for the first time in Nigeria, the country triumphantly saw a civilian to civilian shift without any interference by the military, even though the no actual change in the regime and the elections were strenuously criticised for being corrupt, rigged etc. Most importantly, this has been a time period when Nigeria experienced a boost in its economy, a growth which was almost unprecedented in its actuality. The year 2003 brought about a growth rate of more than ten percent, although there were accusations of the rate of poverty reduction not being added (Omah, 2004).

This was also a period when the ethno religious conflicts increased, in Plateau Stone only, more than fifty thousand people died in 2004, including men, women and children. In addition, Nigeria has become more indebted to foreign lenders and creditors, even though their revenue has been steadily increasing these past years ever since the increase in oil prices, as Nigeria is an oil rich ...