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Public Policy Responses to Exclusion

Author: L-H Piron and Z Curran
Date: 2005
Size: 50 pages (228 kB)

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Summary

How have governments in Brazil, South Africa and India sought to address exclusion in those three societies? What lessons can be learnt from their experiences? This paper from the Overseas Development Institute reviews recent research on policymakers’ responses to exclusion to evaluate the success of various strategies aimed at addressing inequality in developing countries. It argues that, while affirmative action and inclusive politico-legal frameworks contribute to anti-exclusion efforts, coordinated public policy and an equitable political economy are also necessary to ensure successful policy implementation.

Exclusion refers to the marginalisation of groups from political, social and economic processes on the basis of their social identity. It is a comparatively new concept as applied to developing countries: there has hitherto been little evidence of the effects of exclusion on these marginalised groups.

Inter-racial inequalities in Brazil and South Africa remain a major determinant of poverty, while India’s caste system still excludes large sections of the population from socio-economic entitlements. Their governments’ historical responses to these inequities vary: for over 50 years, India has advocated affirmative action policies, whereas Brazil and South Africa have only recently acknowledged their severe racial disparities.

Various findings are made on the divergent experiences of the three states:

• In Brazil, the de-bunking of the myth that “racial democracy” existed throughout society was a first step to tackling exclusion. This, along with a combination of political will, improved data on exclusion and international pressure produced good preconditions for change. However, educational funding remains racially exclusionary, despite valuable programmes to support poor families whose children attend school.
• In South Africa, since the end of apartheid, constitutional changes, affirmative action for black civil servants and businessmen and a progressive tax structure have addressed social exclusion. But weaknesses remain. Affirmative action has benefited only part of black society, increased education spending has not achieved improved delivery for all and the desire to retain the support of big business has constrained poverty reduction.
• In India, the response to the long-standing recognition of exclusion has promoted increased inclusiveness in electoral politics and the middle classes. But limited political empowerment has only partially reduced inequality. Affirmative action is restricted to a few groups, access to education is insufficient and institutional and social discrimination hampers the implementation of anti-exclusionary policies.

A marriage of democratic accountability, broad-based political will, practical policies and co-operation between government and elites are required to ensure the successful implementation of strategies to tackle exclusion:

• Legal safeguards must underpin anti-exclusionary policies and the judiciary and police must be willing to enforce these standards.
• Affirmative action is central to strategies aimed at reversing inequalities, but it can provoke a violent backlash from other groups.
• Governments should consider the side-effects of mainstream policies: economic growth plans and public sector reform may disadvantage excluded groups.
• A co-ordinated anti-exclusionary strategy is the best approach: various policies should be directed towards the same goal, possibly across a range of government departments.
• Governments must address low-level discriminatory attitudes by raising awareness among public servants to enable inclusive measures to be implemented.

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Source: Piron, L.H & Curran, Z. (2005) ‘Public Policy Responses to Exclusion’, Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London
Author: Laure-Helene Piron , lh.piron@odi.org