Problem Statement:
Does poverty in developing countries hinder development and expansion of democratic processes?
Literature review:
Colier (2008) in his article The bottom billion: Why the poorest countries are failing and what can be done about it questioned the role and reasons as to why poor countries in Africa are failing in not only implementation of democracy, but also improving their economies. The article tries to answer the reasons why with Globalization there has been observed increase in poverty especially for certain and specific countries in Africa. Colier presents these countries as immune to Globalization effects. The book addresses poverty and political culture and how they have affected democracy. The hypothesis for the book is poverty contribute to falling behind or falling apart of the mentioned African countries. Globalization has positive impacts in relation to the traps that have over the years contributed to poverty in such countries. Failed states pose core challenges of the developing world in the 21st century. Global poverty is falling rapidly. Real crisis lies in a group of about 50 failing states, the bottom billion, whose problems defy traditional approaches to alleviating poverty.
Colier went ahead to test his hypothesis that global poverty is falling rapidly by comparing worldwide poverty levels of stated African countries in the past two decades and compared the data. Comparison of traditional approaches that address poverty in both developed and poor countries enabled Colier to use same approaches to address poverty situation in both developed and poor country, and found out that response in the bottom poor country was not working as had been expected. Conclusions reached by Colier found out that the poor countries are failing because of lack of commitment and good will in their leadership to end poverty, especially democratic processes that ensure equal access of resources to all. Response strategies employed are not real time. Important thing missed in evaluating countries to choose from, the criteria used to determine the poorest countries was not explained. Colier should have done his research in many parts of the world that experience poverty, and not specifically the African continent. Qualitative method was used where only a few selected countries were chosen. And also the variables are not quantifiable, that is, poverty and democracy.
On the other hand, Grindle (2004) in his piece Enough Governance: Poverty Reduction and Reform in Developing Countries addressed question of reforms required in governance that will enhance development and reduce poverty as well as prioritization of needs, that determines what to be achieved in long and short term, and what measures are feasible or not. Hypotheses are bad governance and lack of reforms is hindering poverty reduction. Prioritization of measures to be taken should be specific to each country needs and not generalized. Grindle compared and contrasted two countries that had different governance methods and found out the impacts in relation to poverty reduction in testing his hypotheses. He also tested out the effects and impacts of prioritization of the different measures taken to reduce poverty, and the contribution that each measure had in relation to reducing poverty. Grindle found out that good governance that enhanced reforms contributed greatly to poverty reduction, especially democratic governance that allowed their people the freedom to choose measures and steps to implement to reduce poverty. Unlike governments that were dictatorial, that imposed measures to be taken that in the long run had less impact in relation to poverty reduction.
He also found out that prioritization of measures depending on countries peculiar strengths and weaknesses had bigger impact in poverty reduction. Countries that have poorly prioritized their needs, and measures applied to reduce poverty have had a negative response in terms of poverty reduction. However, the literature and discussion did not look at the impact that poverty had on democratic processes. It also did not criticize and try to explain the scenario and phenomenon behind the few countries, that have defied the odd and the reasons related to that. For instance, countries that have experienced bad governance over the years but their poverty levels are at a minimal. Grindle used qualitative study in his approach where attributes used to measure poverty levels included access to basic needs and quality of life lived by the people, and countries under observation.
Diamond (2009) in his book Developing democracy: toward consolidation pointed out the theoretical perspective on democratic evolution and consolidation in the late 20th century. The book Questioned and tried to answer and dismiss theories that posit preconditions for democracy, and thus dismiss its prospects in poor countries. It instead argues for developmental theory of democracy. Democracy can work in any place irrespective of developmental status was the hypotheses. Preconditions set as basis for enhancement of democracy does not have basis. Diamond tested his ideas by researching countries that have advanced democratic processes and fall under the same preconditions that have been stated as the framework for establishing democracy. He compared countries that meet the stated conditions as well as those that do not have but are democratic, and dismissed the theory that had been earlier stated regarding democracy.
Conclusions reached by Diamond noted that the theoretical framework set up as conditions required for a country to experience and practice democratic governance should not be generalized. Instead, democratic institution and processes should be laid down that will encourage growth, development and spread of democratic institutions in the world. What missed from Diamond, despite the excellent work that he presented, it did not explain how poverty impacts on the democratization processes. He also did not isolate certain specific countries that have improved and grown their democratic space as result of meeting the earlier pre-stated conditions in the theories. Diamond used qualitative study methods.
Kefeer and khemani (2011) in their article Democracy, Public Expenditures, and the Poor: Understanding Political Incentives for Providing Public Services questioned the Impacts of political incentives of incomplete information on voters, lack of credibility of political promises, and social polarization. Hypothesis used was Politicians incentives to their citizens have less impact to their lives. Politicians do this for their personal and selfish interests at the expense of the citizens of the people. In testing the hypothesis, Keefer and Khemani assessed the impacts, effects of things that politicians give to their supporters to influence their decisions in voting process and time. He analyzed different lifestyles of two people that one was helped by a politician and the one was not, in relation to influencing their voting pattern, and if what one had been given had any measurable influence in their lives. Keefer and Khemani also assessed the deep routes behind politician’s interest in politics, that is, if it was to change the society for the better or change and improve their status at the expense of the people. They analyzed the lives of the two, that is, the politicians and the people, and noted the difference and which had greatly changed and improved unlike the other. Conclusions reached was they found out that handouts that politicians give to people during election and voting times have very minimal impacts in their lives, and therefore should be discouraged. Politicians are the greatest beneficiary whom their lives change a great deal at the expense of the people. Keefer and Khemani aside from the fact that they highlighted very sensitive issues, and tried to link poverty as a cause that some politicians exploit for their selfish and personal interests, they did raise and state exactly how poverty impacts development of democratization processes in the world.
Hypothesis and Data:
Poverty is contributing negatively to development of democracy processes.
Most Politicians from poor countries are elected because of exploiting effects of poverty on people.
The second hypothesis is true because negative effect of poverty such as hunger, lack of basic facilities such as sanitation, access to quality health care, education and business opportunities, make people vulnerable, and therefore easily convinced by politicians who use their misery resulting from poverty. In the event that the electorates were economically empowered, as it is seen in most developed countries, most of the present politicians from poor countries would not have been elected to office (Truman State uniiversity, 2012). The variables are going to measured by formulating figures indicating level of poverty on one hand, and the effect on the other. For instance, rise in poverty by certain percentage, what effects it has on democratic processes, and vice versa. And if poverty is reduced, does it have a positive impact on democratic processes too. The second hypothesis, effects of poverty and impact in determining the choices made. Each effect will be measured on how an individual ranks them in influencing and determining the decisions made in relation to voting.
Potential list of Data sources:
World Bankhttp://data.worldbank.org/
United Nations Development Programs
www.undp.org/
National Democratic Institute (NDI)
www.ndi.org/
World Values Surveyhttp://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/
Conclusions/ Overview:
The proposed plan has focused on specific issues that the authors presented in the literature review above did not address, that is, if poverty in poor countries hinders development and expansion of democratic processes. The authors above discussed and presented related issues, and this plan would excite them to do further research on the specific issues noted from the plan. To conduct the research, challenges such as which specific or exact country to do the study from, bearing in mind that there are many poor countries in the world (Minkoff, 2012). The research also requires a huge financial base that will enable the researchers visit many countries from different parts of the world that are poor so that a general and global observation that is accepted worldwide can be reached. More time is also required to conduct credible research, and it might even take more than a decade to come up with credible evidence and findings. After completion of the project, it is will add to knowledge already existing linking poverty to democratization process. Findings from the research will be used to improve Democratization process not only in the poor countries but also developed countries in the world.
References
Collier, P. (2008). The bottom billion: Why the poorest countries are failing and what can be done about it. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Diamond, L. J. (2009). Developing democracy: Toward consolidation. Baltimore [u.a.: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press.
Grindle, M. S. (2004), Good Enough Governance: Poverty Reduction and Reform in Developing Countries. Governance, 17: 525–548. doi: 10.1111/j.0952-1895.2004.00256.x
Keefer, P. and Khemani,S. (2011) Democracy, Public Expenditures, and the Poor: Understanding Political Incentives for Providing Public ServicesWorld Bank Res Obs (Spring 2005) 20 (1): 1-27 doi:10.1093/wbro/lki002
Minkoff, Scott L. (2012). A Guide to Developing and Writing Research Papers in Political Science. Barnard College Department of Political Science. Available at http://www.scottminkoff.com/storage/minkoff_researchpaper_guide_v4.pdf. Last accessed 10/23/13.
Truman State University (2012). Political Science Research Design Handbook. Available at http://politicalscience.truman.edu/researchdesignhandbook.pdf. Last accessed 10/23/13.
