TUMAINI UNIVERSITY MAKUMIRA

FACULTY OF

COURSE NAME : DEVELOPMENT STUDIES II

COURSE CODE : UCC 8212

COURSE INSTRUCTOR : MR. JOSEPH OLENGAIRE

NATURE OF WORK : GROUP ASSIGNMENT (LLB 10)

GROUP MEMBERS
S/N NAMES REG. NUMBER SIGNATURE
1 SAITABAU NGOSIYEI LAADAPI TUMA/LLB/23/034371
2 SAMWEL JOSHUA MATARO TUMA/LLB/23/034058
3 ANITHA JOSEPHAT MNKENI TUMA/LLB/23/033027
4 ANNY LEONARD SOKA TUMA/LLB/23/036137
5. GATI EMILY CHACHA TUMA/LLB/23/032458
6 JENIPHER JEREMIAH MANG’ERA TUMA/LLB/23/036491
7 THOMAS AQUINAS KAPAYA TUMA/LLB/23/034884
8 SELEMANI ONESMO KAMONGA TUMA/LLB/23/038273
9 REGINA N. MWANDA TUMA/LLB/23/034074
10 NOELA CHACHA WARIOBA TUMA/LLB/23/036210
11 RENATHA R. ANDREW TUMA/LLB/23/036624
12 GAUDENSIA VALENTINE JOSEPH TUMA/LLB/23/031323
13 JOHNSON STEVEN MSHANA TUMA/LLB/23/032235
14 SHUKURU G. KASOLOLONGO TUMA/LLB/23/031716
15 ZENNITH CHARLES MKUDE TUMA/LLB/

QUESTION: Does Democracy help or hinder development? Is economic

development a necessary condition for democracy?

SUBMISSION DATE: 21ST MAY, 2024

 Democracy; means a political system in which the will of the majority or the
governed becomes the law, and involves the opportunity to participate in decision
making in the political process. Democracy whether liberal, African or modern
includes equal opportunity for all people, majority rule, representativeness, minority
rights and also periodic elections due to all processes concerned about democracy in
different countries in the world. Democracy despite being the best system of
governance advocated in different parts of the world, it still has some shortcomings.
Therefore, democracy can both influence and hinder development. On the other hand,
economic development plays an important role in influencing democracy, however it
is not a necessary condition to have democracy. Starting with how democracy help or
influence development, the following points explain;

Infrastructural improvement; in a democratic system, the government

responsiveness to citizen needs is crucial. Through democratic processes such as
elections and public consultations for instance citizens can voice their concerns and
priorities including the need for infrastructural development such as roads, bridges,
schools and hospitals. Elected officials are accountable to their voters, incentivizing
them to invest in infrastructural projects that benefits society as whole. For example,
in countries like south Korea and India democratic governments has facilitated
significant investment in infrastructures that contributed to economic growth and
improved living standards.

Ensure security; democracy provides mechanism for citizen participation and

oversight which can help ensure security and stability within the society. Transparent
and accountable security institutions e are essential components of democratic
governance as the uphold the rule of law and protects citizen rights. Countries with
strong democratic institutions often have more effective law enforcement agencies,
judicial systems and civilians’ oversight mechanisms reducing crimes rates and
promoting a sense of safety and security among the population.

Fosters good international relations; democracy and international relations

based on shared values such as human rights, democracy, and rule of law where
through democratically elected leaders are accountable to their citizens who often
prioritize peaceful co-existence and cooperation with other nations. Democratic
countries are more likely to establish relations with their neighbors fostering regional

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stability and facilitating trade investments hence development. Example the United
nations contributes to positive impacts on development in different member states.

Free and fair elections; these are fundamental to democracy as they provides
citizens with the opportunity to choose for their representatives and hold them
accountable for their actions. Regular elections ensure peaceful transition of power
and provide a mechanism for expressing popular will which is essential for legitimacy
and stability. Countries that hold free and fair elections demonstrate political stability
and commitment to democratic principles which are conducive to long-term
development. For example Botswana which is the stable democratic state in Africa
has held regular elections since independence in 1966, contributing to its economic
growth and development.

Accountability and transparency; democracy promotes accountability and

transparency in government ensuring that public officials are answerable to the people
they serve. Transparent decision-making process open access to information and
independent oversight mechanisms help prevent corruption, misuse of public funds
and abuse of power. When government actions are subject to scrutiny and review,
fosters trust and confidence in democratic institutions which is essential for attracting
investments, promoting economic growth and delivering efficient public services. For
instance, countries like Denmark and New Zealand rank highly on global
transparency. Tanzania also practices the same.

Participation; democracy encourages active citizen participation in decision

making processes, allowing diverse voices to be heard and implemented, when
citizens are engaged in political process, they are more likely to support government
initiatives, contribute to community development efforts and hold authorities
accountable for their actions. Participation in democratic governance can also
empower marginalized groups, promotes social inclusion and address inequalities
leading to more equitable and sustainable development outcomes. Example
participation in budgeting initiatives in Brazil has empowered citizens to prioritize
public spending on infrastructures projects and social services enhancing local
development and citizens satisfaction.

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 Rule of law; democracy upholds the rule of law ensuring that government
actions are constrained by legal norms, principles and institutions. A robust legal
framework protects individuals’ rights, property rights and contracts providing for
economic activities and investment. Also, when the rule of law is respected, citizens
have confidence in the justice system which encourages entrepreneurship, innovation
and long-term investment. Example, countries with strong law institutions like
independent judiciary are more likely to experience greater economic development,
Denmark is known worldwide for its strong rule of law and foreign investment.

Despite the above advantages of democracy to development, there has

also been negative impacts brought by democracy, some of them are as follows;

Political instability; this process is characterized by frequent changes in

governments which brings about unrest and uncertainty which disrupt the democratic
process and hinder development. It creates an environment of unpredictability which
may deter investments, weakens institutions and undermine the rule of law. Countries
with political instability struggles to implement long-term development plans and
attract foreign investments due to concerns about the security of investments. In east
Africa, it occurred in countries like the democratic republic of Congo and Zimbabwe.

Corruption; corruption always cause absence of trust in democratic

institutions, undermines the rule of law and diverts resources away from development
priorities. When public officials engage in corrupt practices like bribery,
embezzlement of public funds and favoritism undermines integrity of democratic
processes and reduce accountability. Countries with highest levels of corruption may
struggle to attracts investments or effectively deliver public services, hindering
overall socio-economic development. This has been more evident in Kenya in east
Africa where corruption manifests in various forms including embezzlement of public
funds, bribery and nepotism which has always undermined the efficient delivery of
public services.

Selfishness; among the political leaders or decision makers can undermine the
collective good and weakens democratic governance. This is when elected political
officials prioritize personal interests over the broader needs of the society. This erodes
public trust in democratic institutions and weakens the foundation of democracy
hence slows down long-term development planning and failure to address or avoid

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challenges like poverty and inequality. This has been very common in DRC and
Zimbabwe under president Robert Mugabe.

The economic development influences democratic systems, however it is

not a necessary condition for democracy because some countries adopted democratic
systems of governance with lower economic developments as for the case of third
world countries or the sub Saharan countries. The followings are the ways in which
economic development plays an important role in democracy;

Growth of middle class; economic development expands the size and

influence of the middle class which plays a crucial role in supporting democratic
government. A strong middle class is associated with values such as education,
entrepreneurship and civic engagement which are essential for sustaining democratic
institutions. The middle-class citizens always have resources and holds the rulers
accountable and advocate for policies that promotes economic prosperity and social
equity. This is observable in western Europe and north American countries.

Political stability; economic development can contribute to political stability

by reducing socio economic inequalities, addressing grievances and creating
opportunities for mobility. Always stable political environments are conducive to the
functioning of democratic institutions as they provide for investment,
entrepreneurship and the rule of law. For example, western Europe has achieved high
levels of economic development due to maintenance of robust democratic systems.

Improved standards of living; through increased income, access to

education, health care and basic services. A higher standard of living can empower
individuals to engage more actively in political processes and demands greater
accountability from their government. For example, south Korea experiences stable
democracy due to improved life standards.

Resource availability; economic development often provides governments

with the financial resources necessary to invest in public services as well as financing
various democratic process like elections. Through economic development, the
government can provide well improved infrastructures and important social services
like education, healthcare and social welfare programs. Access to resources help the
government to address socio economic challenges, reduce poverty and promote
inclusive growth which in turn strengthen democratic government. Resource

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constrains can limits governments ability to meet the needs of their citizens leading to
dissatisfaction, unrest, and potential threats to democracy. Example, Canada have
leveraged their abundant natural resources to fund social welfare programs and
support economic development.

Economic security and wealth; economic development can enhance

economic security and wealth distribution within the society reducing vulnerability
and inequality that undermine democratic government. A more prosperous and
economic secure population is less susceptible to authoritarianism and populist
movements that exploits economic grievances for political gains. Also, wealthy
society tend to invest in education and healthcare which can promote social mobility
and equality of opportunities as for the case of Australia and Switzerland which have
achieved high levels of economic security and wealth through sound economic
policies and investments in human capital, supporting stable and inclusive democratic
systems.

Conclusively; the relationship between democracy and development is a

complex one which has become a serious debate among intellectuals. Democracy can
provide a framework for accountability, participation and participation which
guarantees economic development. However economic development can lead to
democracy in a number of ways and therefore both democracy and development
influence each other depending on the context.

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 REFERENCES

Ahmad, Zakaria Haji. (1988). Malaysia; Quasi Democracy in a Divided Society. In

democracy in developing countries; Asia.

Alesina & others, (1996). Political instability and economic growth. Journal of
economic growth 1(June) 189-211.

Arat, Zehra F. (1988). Democracy and Economic Development; Modernization

Theory Revisited. Comparative politics 21(1);21-36.