The Politics of Survival - Slide 8
The Politics of Survival - Slide 8
| By: stefan On: 2008/05/02 15:15 Shared: YES |
DoC analysis suggests that there is a universal law of politics: POLITICAL SURVIVAL.
Different meaning in developed countries than in most developing countries.
In developed countries:
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- Political institutions with a high degree of accountability and change of transfer of power through regular and fair elections.
- Strong incentive to deliver effective services and economic benefits to please electorate and win next election.
- Tradition and mechanisms for smooth transfer of power.
- Political office is not a route to self-enrichment.
- Widespread poverty and limited opportunities for wealth accumulation - political power, and the control over state resources, is often the only route to wealth.
- High stakes and powerful incentives for power holders to retain power with whatever means they can. Alternative is often poverty for them and their political supporters.
- Once in power political priorities will only represent those issues and actions for which politicians judge that the balance of risks and incentives have moved in their favour and that will contribute to their political survival.
- Political calculation: risks of neglecting the needs of the poor are low in relation to the economic gains from maintaining the status quo.
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| By: stefan On: 2008/05/02 13:42 Shared: YES |
Drivers of Change analysis provides an insight into politics in developing countries: into the motives for entering politics, the incentives to which politicians are responding, and the consequent political priorities.
DoC analysis suggests that there is a universal law of politics: POLITICAL SURVIVAL.
This has a different meaning in developed countries than in most developing countries.
In developed countries the political institutions ensure a high degree of accountability and change of transfer of power through regular and fair elections. Also political office does not offer opportunities for self-enrichment; political salaries are low in comparison with the private sector. Whereas no one wants to relinquish political power, it is accepted that that may happen at an election and a smooth and painless power takes place.
In the context of widespread poverty and limited opportunities for wealth accumulation, political power, and the control over state resources, is often the only route to wealth. The stakes are very high and there are powerful incentives for power holders to retain power with whatever means they can. the alternative is often poverty for them and their political supporters.
Once in power political priorities will only represent those issues and actions for which politicians judge that the balance of risks and incentives have moved in their favour and that will contribute to their political survival.
They make a political calculation and more often than not the risks of neglecting the needs of the poor are usually judged to be low in relation to the economic gains from maintaining the status quo.
Link to The Politics of Survival slide.
Link to The Politics of Survival slide.
- DRIVERS OF CHANGE - OR STAGNATION?
- BACKGROUND TO 'DRIVERS OF CHANGE' ANALYSIS
- POLITICAL ECONOMY
- METHODOLOGY
- AID EFFECTIVENESS?
- KEY FINDINGS OF 'DRIVERS OF CHANGE' STUDIES
- Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS)
- The Politics of Survival
- Patrimonialism
- Political Incentives for Poverty Reduction
- The Role of 'Good Governance' in Development
- Summary of Findings