Economic Restructuring, Coping Strategies and Social Change: Implications for Institutional Development in Africa

Abstract

Since the early 1980s, most African countries have experienced unsatisfactory rates of economic growth and profound changes in livelihood systems, which have affected the way their modern institutions function. However, when confronted with evidence of poor economic performance in countries undergoing adjustment, the international financial institutions often blame governments for their lack of political will in regulating the activities of bureaucrats and vested interests. They recommend policies aimed at restructuring public sector institutions through privatization, public expenditure cuts, retrenchment, new structures of incentives and decentralization. Despite efforts to implement these measures in a number of countries, the problems of low institutional capacity remain. Two key contradictions appear to explain why institutions have been largely ineffective in crisis economies in Africa: the growing contradiction between the interests of bureaucratic actors and the goals they are supposed to uphold; and the contradiction between the institutional set‐up itself and what goes on in the wider society. To understand how these contradictions work, it is necessary to look more closely at the set of values and relationships that anchor institutions on social systems. The issues here are social compromise and cohesion; institutional socialization and loyalties; overarching sets of values; and political authority to enforce rules and regulations. The crises in these four areas of social relations, which are linked to the ways households and groups have coped with recession and restructuring, have altered Africa's state institutions so that it has become difficult to carry out meaningful development programmes and public sector reforms without addressing the social relations themselves.

Vulnerability, Partnerships and the Pursuit of Survival: Urban Livelihoods and Apprenticeship Contracts in a West African City

“…Other studies suggest an intensification of social struggle as resources become increasingly polarized, forcing individuals to seek 'flexible' work avenues, reorganize social networks, and maintain as liquid a position as possible in asset holdings to ensure survival (cf. Bangura, 1993;Moser, 1996). However, such strategies are neither limited to the poor, nor to participation in the informal sector (see Moser, 1996Moser, , 1998Beall, 2000;Owusu, 2001;Rakodi and LloydJones, 2002).…”

Rehaciendo las ciudades africanas

“…Estas tensiones son algunas veces políticas a medida en que se les otorga más responsabilidad o cial a los barrios para manejar distintos servicios urbanos (Brett 1996;Rakodi 2003). Esta responsabilidad genera nuevas modalidades de colaboración pero también intensi ca la competencia (Bangura 1994;Schiibeler 1996). En algunas instancias, las comunidades se han polarizado en función de una estrati cación social que en el pasado era más abierta (El-Kenz, 1996;Devisch 1995;Diouf, Fotê y Mbembe 1999).…”

Wege zu einem nachhaltigen Umgang mit Süßwasser

“…Die Verdienstmög-lichkeiten im informellen Sektor sind entgegen landläufigen Erwartungen relativ günstig; zumindest werden in vielen Städten die staatlichen Mindestlöhne des formellen Sektors z. T. deutlich übertroffen (Bantle, 1994 (Stapelfeldt, 1990;Manshard, 1992 (Bangura, 1996). Bezieher hoher Einkommen und politisch einflußreiche Grup- (Lipton, 1976;Sundrum, 1990 (Bangura, 1996).…”