A proposed theory of war economies and supporting policy framework for dismantling war economies in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Liebenberg, Frederick Sybert
- Authors: Liebenberg, Frederick Sybert
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Economic policy , Military occupation -- Economic aspects -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , War-time economies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3235 , vital:20414
- Description: Utilising the Grounded Theory Research Method, this study identified a range of open, axial and selective codes, through a literature review, which resulted in the formulation of a proposed theory of how war economies are formed and maintained. Based on the theoretical proposition of the proposed theory, a policy framework for dismantling such war economies was also developed and presented. The proposed theory of war economies essentially argues that war economies are formed in post-colonial sub-Saharan Africa because of the existence of an artificial state. The existence of an artificial state is ascribed to the emerging legacies of colonial state formation processes, which created failed state entities which are unable to produce public goods for all its citizens because of its inability to maintain a monopoly of violence whilst maintain full administrative control over its territory. This inability results in an increase in the vulnerability of state and non-state actors. In response to these vulnerabilities, both state and non-state actors established a range of parallel political, economic and military structures. These structures in turn made use of both network and resource capacities to create an environment where politics are economised and conflict is commercialised, in order to mitigate the impacts of state failure and the inability to produce public goods. The result of the creation of an environment where politics are economised and conflict is commercialised, is the creation of incentives, structures and processes to ensure that conflict and associated conditions of instability are sustained in order to ensure primitive accumulation of wealth and resources. Based on the core theoretical proposition of the proposed theory, the study also presents a broad policy framework for dismantling war economies. In broad terms the framework proposes an integrated state-building process, based on a range of policy mechanisms aimed at maintaining a monopoly over violence, increasing administrative control, dismantling conflict networks and ensuring effective and efficient resource management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Liebenberg, Frederick Sybert
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Economic policy , Military occupation -- Economic aspects -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , War-time economies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3235 , vital:20414
- Description: Utilising the Grounded Theory Research Method, this study identified a range of open, axial and selective codes, through a literature review, which resulted in the formulation of a proposed theory of how war economies are formed and maintained. Based on the theoretical proposition of the proposed theory, a policy framework for dismantling such war economies was also developed and presented. The proposed theory of war economies essentially argues that war economies are formed in post-colonial sub-Saharan Africa because of the existence of an artificial state. The existence of an artificial state is ascribed to the emerging legacies of colonial state formation processes, which created failed state entities which are unable to produce public goods for all its citizens because of its inability to maintain a monopoly of violence whilst maintain full administrative control over its territory. This inability results in an increase in the vulnerability of state and non-state actors. In response to these vulnerabilities, both state and non-state actors established a range of parallel political, economic and military structures. These structures in turn made use of both network and resource capacities to create an environment where politics are economised and conflict is commercialised, in order to mitigate the impacts of state failure and the inability to produce public goods. The result of the creation of an environment where politics are economised and conflict is commercialised, is the creation of incentives, structures and processes to ensure that conflict and associated conditions of instability are sustained in order to ensure primitive accumulation of wealth and resources. Based on the core theoretical proposition of the proposed theory, the study also presents a broad policy framework for dismantling war economies. In broad terms the framework proposes an integrated state-building process, based on a range of policy mechanisms aimed at maintaining a monopoly over violence, increasing administrative control, dismantling conflict networks and ensuring effective and efficient resource management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Is economic growth without human development sustainable? : Sub-Saharan Africa’s recent growth acceleration in context
- Authors: Hadisi Basingene, Serge
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Sustainable development -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Economic development -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Poverty -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Social conditions , Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Economic conditions , Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEcon
- Identifier: vital:1098 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013137
- Description: The purpose of the study has been to assess the question of sustainability of economic growth and human development, particularly using sub-Saharan Africa in context. Sub-Saharan Africa is an interesting case study because, on the one hand, it has been mired in poverty and remains the least developed region in the world, and on the other, it has experienced a revival in economic growth since the mid-1990s. Economists tend to use the term economic development and economic growth interchangeably. However, questions have been raised about whether Africa’s latest growth episode is indeed ‘development’. Although there are many issues at stake, the key question, and the focus of this thesis, is whether sub-Saharan Africa’s revival is sustainable. The paper sets out the debate between the ‘World Bank view’ and the ‘alternative view’. The main debate lies around how genuine development should be achieved. Firstly, the ‘World Bank view’ claims that economic growth is necessary and sufficient condition to achieve development. Economic growth will be generated by ‘orthodox’ policies and this growth will automatically trickle-down and stimulate development. Secondly, the ‘alternative view’ argues that economic growth is necessary but it is not sufficient to stimulate sustainable development. Economic growth without ‘qualitative’ change is not ‘sustainable’. Indeed, human development shortfalls (as well as other, social, political and structural problems), if not addressed through appropriate policy interventions, can undermine economic growth. The ‘alternative view’ appears to be strongly supported by evidence from other developing regions such as Latin America and East Asia. The empirical study conducted in this thesis reinforces doubts about ‘sustainability’. Even though there are signs of convergence in some indicators; this is not the case for all indicators. More importantly the gap between sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions remains very wide. Sub-Saharan Africa’s development path remains uncertain. The intention in this study is not to be conclusive that sub-Saharan Africa cannot achieve sustainable development. Rather the study attempts to identify potential hindrances to sub-Saharan Africa’s development and to provide a solid foundation for further research in the same direction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Hadisi Basingene, Serge
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Sustainable development -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Economic development -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Poverty -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Social conditions , Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Economic conditions , Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEcon
- Identifier: vital:1098 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013137
- Description: The purpose of the study has been to assess the question of sustainability of economic growth and human development, particularly using sub-Saharan Africa in context. Sub-Saharan Africa is an interesting case study because, on the one hand, it has been mired in poverty and remains the least developed region in the world, and on the other, it has experienced a revival in economic growth since the mid-1990s. Economists tend to use the term economic development and economic growth interchangeably. However, questions have been raised about whether Africa’s latest growth episode is indeed ‘development’. Although there are many issues at stake, the key question, and the focus of this thesis, is whether sub-Saharan Africa’s revival is sustainable. The paper sets out the debate between the ‘World Bank view’ and the ‘alternative view’. The main debate lies around how genuine development should be achieved. Firstly, the ‘World Bank view’ claims that economic growth is necessary and sufficient condition to achieve development. Economic growth will be generated by ‘orthodox’ policies and this growth will automatically trickle-down and stimulate development. Secondly, the ‘alternative view’ argues that economic growth is necessary but it is not sufficient to stimulate sustainable development. Economic growth without ‘qualitative’ change is not ‘sustainable’. Indeed, human development shortfalls (as well as other, social, political and structural problems), if not addressed through appropriate policy interventions, can undermine economic growth. The ‘alternative view’ appears to be strongly supported by evidence from other developing regions such as Latin America and East Asia. The empirical study conducted in this thesis reinforces doubts about ‘sustainability’. Even though there are signs of convergence in some indicators; this is not the case for all indicators. More importantly the gap between sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions remains very wide. Sub-Saharan Africa’s development path remains uncertain. The intention in this study is not to be conclusive that sub-Saharan Africa cannot achieve sustainable development. Rather the study attempts to identify potential hindrances to sub-Saharan Africa’s development and to provide a solid foundation for further research in the same direction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
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