The Democracy and Development Link
Development Outreach, November 2007 -- http://www1.worldbank.org/devoutreach/
Development OUTREACH is a flagship magazine in the field of global knowledge for development
Democracy: An adaptable system critical for development
-Guest Editorial
Abdoulaye Diop and Frannie Léautier
“….The relationship between democracy and development has elicited debate and discussion among researchers and policy
makers throughout history. Interest in their relationship has heightened in recent years due to the understanding that
democracy and development are essential for prosperous and equitable societies.
The concept of democracy has been known for millennia. Where it has been implemented, it has proved to be an adaptable
system with intrinsic appeal embedded in values and ethics that people hold dear. The creation of democratic societies in
prosperous times and the struggle to re-establish them following, for example, periods of war and autocratic rule is a positive
indication of the innate value of democracy and its relationship to human achievement and development.
Prosperous agglomerations of people, living in what, today, we call cities, were among the first signs of the link between democracy,
prosperity and the advancement of human rights. Early Sumerian city dwellers around 3500 BC are credited with being the
first practitioners of democracy.1 The ancient cities of
democratic practices through regular public assembly. Democracy was not limited to cities….”
Overcoming Autocratic Legacies
Joseph Siegle
Shows that countries that stay on the democratic path tend to generate higher rates of growth and social development.
Building Institutional Capacity for Democratization
Theodore J. Piccone
Argues that building institutional capacity for democratization requires developing both a culture of public service
in government agencies and effectively engaging the public in policy decisions.
Regional Organizations, Sustainable Development and Democratic Governance
Edward R. McMahon
Points out that regional organizations have the potential to play a critical role in the adoption and consolidation
of democratic values by providing the basis for the translation of universal norms and standards into reality in member states.
The Role of the Private Sector in Advancing Democratic Development: What works, what doesn’t, and why?
Papa Demba Thiam
Argues that democratic development and private sector development are mutually supportive and contribute to shared
growth and poverty reduction, but they need to be sustained by result oriented public-private partnership.
Democracy and Development in Mali
Zeïni Moulaye
Reports that in
this relationship to improve the condition of a country ranking among the poorest in the world.
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