|
|
Article: Entrenching economic freedom in Africa.
- Article from:
- The Cato Journal
- Article date:
- September 22, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Cato Institute. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
In the 1950s and 1960s, many Africans believed that independence would change prospects for rapid economic growth and development. First, independence implied the end of colonialism and its despotic, exploitative, and repressive institutions. Second, with the Europeans gone, Africans could now engage in democratic (people-driven, participatory, and inclusive) constitution-making to provide themselves with dispensations that reflected their customs, realities, beliefs, values, cultures, and aspirations. Third, public policy would be focused on maximizing the objectives of the indigenous peoples. Fourth, the new governments, now controlled by Africans, would provide the ...