Strategies for improving administrative efficiency in the democratizing states of Africa

Assessing the marketing environment in sub‐Saharan Africa: opportunities and threats analysis

“…Broadly, three patterns of change are discernible, namely: 1 a change from a state-dominated economic order towards a market-based economic system; 2 a reform of the political systems, that is, a move away from systems dominated by one-party and military structures to some sort of multi-party politics; and 3 a shift away from conflicts and strife to political reconciliation and social rehabilitation (Olowu, 1998).…”

Institutional paradigm and the management of transitions

“…This cautious optimism is based on the dynamic signals emerging from SSA environments. According to some opinions, (World Bank, 1989; Ayittey, 1992; Olowu, 1997; Ikeme, 1999; Nwankwo, 2000), encouraging patterns of change are discernible, namely:a change from a state‐dominated economic order towards a market‐based economic system;a change in the political systems, that is, a considerable move away from systems dominated by one‐party and military structures to some sort of multi‐party, popular democratic arrangements;a shift away from conflicts and strife to political reconciliation and social rehabilitation;a change in geo‐demographics – a move away from “nationalistic introversion” (i.e. intolerance of other nationals) to greater cross‐culture and cross‐border mobility of labour and capital;a gradual shift away from donor‐led development assistance strategy to country‐“owning” and directing development agenda; anda departure from the dependency/self‐reliance approach of immediate post‐independence initiatives (Owusu, 2003) to integration into the global economy – a realisation that African cannot shield itself from globalisation without risking further marginalisation.There are, of course, qualifiers to these features largely because SSA cannot be viewed monolithically.…”

“…intolerance of other nationals) to greater cross‐culture and cross‐border mobility of labour and capital;a gradual shift away from donor‐led development assistance strategy to country‐“owning” and directing development agenda; anda departure from the dependency/self‐reliance approach of immediate post‐independence initiatives (Owusu, 2003) to integration into the global economy – a realisation that African cannot shield itself from globalisation without risking further marginalisation.There are, of course, qualifiers to these features largely because SSA cannot be viewed monolithically. The region represents a mosaic of different degrees along a continuum at the extremes of which respectively lie monocratic and polycentric political and economic regimes, economic resurgence and decay, political liberalisation and anarchy, social stability and unrest (Olowu, 1997). By and large, there is no single country in the region, which has not felt the pressure to undertake macroeconomic policy modifications or reversals.…”