Abstract
This study is on the politics and governance of development. The total population for the study is 200 selected residents in Enugu communities, Enugu state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made politicians, civil servants, youths and women were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Governance has become a key concept in the international development debate over the past ten years. It marks an intriguing transformation in focus from micro to macro issues. It also poses fresh challenges to those interested in relating socio-economic outcomes to macro interventions. After ten years of efforts to make sense of governance in development, many of these basic challenges remain. The concept of political development is being used much more meaningfully in the modern times in the expression of development in many nations of Asia, South America and Africa at large (Karimi and Sarjit, 2014). In this concept, modernization, growth and development are mostly important and undeniable. Political development as a usable concept has been involved to a huge number of political, economic and sociological studies. Upon this concept for example Pye (1964) indicated that political development refers to adjustment between old patterns of life and new demands. Almond (1960); Lerner (1958); Lapalombara (1963) also note that the idea of political development has been considered as a necessary requirement to achieve democracy and self-reliance in political history of the 20th century. Almond used it as mobilization of power; Lerner described political development as one aspect of multi-dimensional social change process; Lapalombara named it as a building block of democracy. In the dynamics of political competition, Stigler (1972); Barro (1973); Becker(1983) and William (1995) argued that increasing competition minimizes the political rents; for instance it expands the set of public policies available to the voters, ensures efficient use of public resources and works as an instrument of revealing information and improves the principle agent relationship between voters and political representatives, creates incentives for the elected representatives working towards public interests instead of private motives and hence enhances citizens welfare. From the point of accountability, Persson (1997) argued that political competition makes the incumbent politicians accountable for their actions. Bersley (2010) argued that intense political competition may induce political parties to implement growth promoting policies rather than special interests. However on the other hand lopsided political competition may result into inefficient provision of public services because the probability of being re-elected diminishes and or becomes insignificant as the degree of competition continues to increase. Thus political parties may be forced to adopt pork-barrel policies to cater for the narrow interests of specific groups instead of implementing developmental policies that would benefit the majority (Polo, 1998;Damania and Yalcin, 2008; Svensson, 2005; Acemoglu and Robnison, 2005; Lizzeri and Persico,2005).Despite the relationship of political development to economic growth, there are still contrary views on the understanding of the concept; Pinto and Timmons (2005); Cleary(2007) found out that political competition plays a limited role in determining economic performance. Padovano and Riccuiti (2008) found out that greater political ties are correlated with an increase in short term, redistributive policy choices aimed at buying votes which later depresses the economic performance of the nation. Thus the available literature does not help one to have a more defined conclusion on the extent to which politics influences development hence may be content specific and system specific.
However on the other hand lopsided political competition may result into inefficient provision of public services because the probability of being re-elected diminishes and or becomes insignificant as the degree of competition continues to increase. Thus political parties may be forced to adopt pork-barrel policies to cater for the narrow interests of specific groups instead of implementing developmental policies that would benefit the majority. Despite the relationship of political development to economic growth, there are still contrary views on the understanding of the concept
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the relationship between politics and governance of development
- To ascertain kind of development brought by politics
- To ascertain whether politics affect economic development
The research work was restricted by the company in order to develop the hypothesis formulation
Hypothesis One
Ho: There is no the relationship between politics and governance of development
Ho: There is the relationship between politics and governance of development
Hypothesis Two
Ho: politics do not affect economic development
Ho: politics affect economic development
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study will be very significant to students, government and the general public. The study will give a clear insight on the politics and governance of development. The study will also serve as a reference to other researcher that will embark on this topic
- SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study covers the politics and governance of development. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;
- a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
- b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study
DEFINITION OF TERMS
POLITICS: Politics refers to a set of activities associated with the governance of a country, or an area. It involves making decisions that apply to members of a group. It refers to achieving and exercising positions of governance—organized control over a human community, particularly a state.
GOVERNANCE: Governance comprises all of the processes of governing – whether undertaken by the government of a state, by a market or by a network – over a social system and whether through the laws, norms, power or language of an organized society
DEVELOPMENT: the process of developing or being developed.
1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows
Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study
THE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE OF DEVELOPMENT
