Democratization via Elections in an African "Narco-state"? The Case of Guinea-Bissau

Dirk Kohnert

No 123, GIGA Working Papers from GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies

Abstract: Recent development cooperation with Guinea-Bissau, focusing on good governance, statebuilding and conflict prevention, did not contribute to democratization nor to the stabilization of volatile political, military and economic structures. The portrayal of Guinea-Bissau as a failed 'narco-state', as well as Western aid meant to stabilize this state, are both based on dubious concepts. Certainly, the impact of drug trafficking could endanger democratization and state-building if continued unchecked. However, the most pressing need is not state-building facilitated by external aid that is poorly rooted in the social and political fabric of the country. Rather, it is grassroots nation-building that is a pre-condition for the creation of viable state institutions.

Keywords: Guinea-Bissau; elections; democratization; informal institutions; aid; nationbuilding; institution building; drug trafficking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 E26 N47 O17 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Democratisation via elections in an African 'narco state'? The case of Guinea-Bissau (2010)
Working Paper: Democratisation via elections in an African 'narco state'? The case of Guinea-Bissau (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:gigawp:123

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