GSDRC newsfeed on Informal institutions

Ethno-Religious Conflicts: Exploring the Role of Religion in Conflict Resolution

S. A. Kadayifci-Orellana — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How can the religious texts, values and beliefs used to incite conflict be harnessed to promote peace-building and reconciliation? What contributions can faith-based actors make to conflict resolution? This chapter from the SAGE Handbook of Conflict Resolution examines the ways in which religion can be used to inspire both war and peace. The revival of religiously motivated conflicts, and the increasing involvement of religious actors in resolving them, requires understanding of their dynamics.

Rethinking Patrimonialism and Neopatrimonialism in Africa

Anne Pitcher, Mary Moran, Michael Johnston — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Is �patrimonialism� really the source of Africa�s poor governance? This article from the African Studies Review argues that contemporary conceptions of patrimonialism and neopatrimonialism as negative regime types associated with corruption, clientelism, and autocracy are based on a fundamental misreading of theory. Weber�s �patrimonialism� is, rather, a specific form of authority derived from traditional sources of legitimacy and based on a mutual understanding of responsibilities between the ruler and the ruled. Casting aside these misconceptions will allow African scholars to better analyse the character of African states, without falling back on the notion of African exceptionalism.

Do Inclusive Elite Bargains Matter? A Research Framework for Understanding the Causes of Civil War in Sub-Saharan Africa

Stefan Lindemann — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Sub-Saharan Africa is the world�s most conflict-intensive region. But why have some African states experienced civil war, while others have managed to maintain political stability? This discussion paper from the Crisis States Research Centre argues that the ability of post-colonial states in Sub-Saharan Africa to maintain political stability depends on the ability of the ruling political parties to overcome the historical legacy of social fragmentation. Creating inclusive elite bargains can bring stability, while exclusionary elite bargains give rise to trajectories of civil war.

Rude Accountability in the Unreformed State: Informal Pressures on Frontline Bureaucrats in Bangladesh

Naomi Hossain — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How successful are the informal pressures that poor citizens exert on officials to provide services in Bangladesh? This paper from the Institute of Development Studies examines how poor people experience safety nets, schools and health services. Local political and social pressures provide responsiveness to demands for service through shame and the threat of violence. The gains from �rude� accountability are often short-lived, however, and may backfire. It is important to bridge the informal and official mechanisms of accountability.

Power Analysis - Experiences and Challenges

Helena Bjuremalm — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

What can be learned from SIDA's use of power analysis? This concept note from the Swedish International Development Agency draws on its analyses of Ethiopia, Kenya, Bangladesh, Tanzania and Burkina Faso. Power analysis can help donors understand underlying structural factors impeding poverty reduction as well as incentives and disincentives for pro-poor development. Such analysis must consider the ability of the poor to articulate their concerns; the institutional channels and arenas for voicing these concerns; and the legal basis of poverty reduction.

Failures of the State Failure Debate: Evidence from the Somali Territories

Tobias Hagmann and Markus Hoehne — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Is the literature on state failure failing? This article from the Journal of International Development argues that the state failure debate is based on fundamental conceptual flaws that render its insights and recommendations unconvincing in the light of empirical evidence. Analysis of the different trajectories of Somali political orders reveals that state formation in Africa contradicts central tenets of the state failure debate. External state-building interventions should move beyond a focus on the nation-state to recognise and engage with sub-national political entities.

The Political Economy of Policy Reform: Issues and Implications for Policy Dialogue and Development Operations

World Bank — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How can donors improve the effectiveness of policy reform processes? This study from the World Bank addresses the political economy of sector reform in agricultural marketing, and water supply and sanitation. It uses a social analysis perspective to analyse stakeholder interests, incentives, institutions, risks and opportunities. Development agencies should undertake timely political economy analysis and establish a sustainable process for building broad coalitions. They should also promote transformative institutional change that includes empowering forms of bottom-up accountability.

The Logic of African Neopatrimonialism: What Role for Donors?

Diana Cammack — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When sub-Saharan African government institutions do not function as expected by international aid agencies, they are often labelled dysfunctional, but their action is quite logical when viewed through a 'neopatrimonial lens'. This Development Policy Review article explains the 'logic' behind neopatrimonial practices. For example, although politicians understand that professionalising their bureaucracy will stimulate development, they prevent this from occurring to avoid exposing their corrupt, clientelist networks. Donors must begin to act politically - to confront directly the political logic that undermines economic development and democratic consolidation.

Traditional Leaders In Modern Africa: Can Democracy And The Chief Co-Exist?

Carolyn Logan — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Can democracy and the African chief co-exist? This study from Michigan State University analyses Afrobarometer survey data to explore popular perceptions of elected and traditional leaders. It finds that positive attitudes toward chiefs are not incompatible with democracy - and vice versa. Furthermore, positive perceptions of chiefs and of elected leaders are strongly linked. African societies are adept at integrating seemingly incompatible institutional structures, such as traditional institutions.

Democratisation without Representation? The Power and Political Strategies of a Rural Elite in North India

Craig Jeffrey — Sat, 01 Jan 2000 00:00:00 GMT

In the 1960s, the Indian government refocused its development policies towards improving agricultural production. This Political Geography paper examines how one of the groups that benefited from this policy, rich farmers from the intermediate Jat caste, have since sought to place relatives in the police force and nurture political networks in rural Uttar Pradesh. They have been quite successful in perpetuating their economic and social advantage through these activities. The paper's analysis complements macro-structural political economic accounts of India's flawed democratisation by offering a 'thick description' of local state/society relations. The article provides a basis for re-evaluating popular accounts of the relationship between rural people and the local state in India.

Institutions, Power and Policy Outcomes in Africa

Goran Hyden — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In Africa, as elsewhere, the paths to development are dependent on historical institutional context, and cannot be imposed from outside. This paper, by the Africa Power and Politics Programme, argues that in African states informal institutions dominate power relations but are not understood, and so development policies lack any real traction. A model of how formal and informal institutions interact is proposed and linked to an analysis of power itself - its basis, reach, exercise, nature and consequences. This shows that conventional models of development planning cannot work in Africa, where the production and distribution of 'public goods' are highly politicised and personalised.

Non-state Institutions as a Basis of State Reconstruction: The Case of Justice Systems in Africa

Leah Wambura Kimathi — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT

How can non-state justice institutions further the process of state reconstruction in Africa? This paper from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa discusses the way in which the state can be made more responsive by incorporating non-state institutions in formal state structures. It argues for a synergy of formal and informal justice systems to enhance the advantages and minimise the disadvantages of each. Measures to improve non-formal justice should be pursued alongside efforts to decentralise and streamline formal justice structures.

Bridging Modernity and Tradition: The Rule of Law and the Search for Justice

Ali Wardak, Daud Saba, Halima Kazem — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

How can justice and the rule of law be strengthened to advance human development in Afghanistan? This Afghanistan Human Development Report from the Centre for Policy and Human Development highlights the links between human development and the rule of law. It makes the case for a hybrid model of Afghan justice involving a collaborative relationship between formal and informal justice institutions.

The Political Approach to Institutional Formation, Maintenance and Change: A Literature Review Essay

Adrian Leftwich — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

What are the political circumstances, power dynamics, and institutional conditions that promote pro-poor growth? This literature review for the Research Consortium on Institutions for Pro-Poor Growth (IPPG) argues that politics rather than economics is the primary factor in shaping state institutions. Using political analysis will better indicate whether institutions enable or inhibit pro-poor growth than economic or incentive-focussed analyses. However, there has been relatively little research to date on the application of institutional theory to the politics of growth and development in developing countries. Institutional analysis can be used as a lens through which to view both political and economic analysis of pro-poor growth.

Nepal at a Crossroads: Strengthening Community Security in the Post-Settlement Context

International Alert and Friends for Peace — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

What are the key security issues facing post-conflict Nepal? How can ongoing local tensions be addressed? This donor briefing paper from International Alert and Friends for Peace reports on the security concerns of vulnerable and marginalised groups in the country. Donors and communities should work together to promote locally owned security structures, collaboration between political parties and an approach to reconciliation which incorporates development strategies.

Poverty Observatory in Mozambique: Final Report

A A da Silva Francisco and K Matter — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

What lessons can be learned about citizen participation and social accountability processes in the implementation and monitoring of Mozambique's Poverty Reduction Strategy? This paper published by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the World Bank reports on the work of the country's Poverty Observatory (PO). It supports the view that strengthening effective and meaningful citizen participation in the implementation and monitoring of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and other programmes can be highly positive, useful and relevant for the development of Mozambique.

Warlords as Alternative Forms of Governance Systems

P Jackson — Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT

What can and should we do about warlords in the modern world? This paper from the International Development Department of the University of Birmingham argues that adopting a different mindset is the first step to finding a solution. Warlords are not a new phenomenon. Furthermore, they are primarily responses to instability. They respond to the fraying of state power to the point where the central state begins losing control. Ultimately they should be seen as embryonic governments.

Ambiguous Institutions: Traditional Governance and Local Democracy in Rural India

K Ananth Pur and M Moore — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Customary village councils (CVCs) are widespread in India but are generally regarded as a waning 'traditional' institution, responsible for enforcing caste and gender inequality. This working paper from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), however, reveals a very different picture. CVCs are enjoying a revival and adapting to the democratic element in India?s modern formal institutions. As they have no monopoly, they continually have to earn the authority they exercise.

Gender Justice, Citizenship and Entitlements - Core Concepts, Central Debates and New Directions for Research

A-M Goetz — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Why have efforts at law reform and progress in exposing gender biases in formal legal systems failed to bring about gender justice? This chapter, from the International Development Research Centre's (IDRC) book Gender Justice, Citizenship and Development, links current thinking on gender justice to debates on citizenship, entitlements, rights, law and development. It argues that equal citizenship, whilst key to the struggle for gender justice, does not guarantee it.

Accountability Failures and the Decentralisation of Service Delivery in Pakistan

S K Mohmand and A Cheema — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Historically, Pakistan's rapid economic growth has not been matched by advances in social development. So, were the 2001 local government decentralisation reforms effective in improving the magnitude and quality of provision of essential public services? This paper published by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) examines the impact of these reforms in rural Pakistan over a three year period in a set of case study villages. Evidence from these villages suggests that, while the provision of targeted services has increased, the quality and provision of universal services has not.