Votes and Budgets: Comparative Studies in Accountable Governance in the South (International Political Economy Series)

This book presents case-studies in accountable government and the management of public funds, with particular reference to the multi-party political systems of Botswana, Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Zambia under the Third Republic. Criteria for judging accountability are set out, and the role and influence of political leadership, elections, parties, parliaments, interest groups, the media and external donors are explored. Conclusions take account of the comparisons which are drawn with the experience of single-party regimes in Africa and Asia. Through case-studies on Botswana, Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Zambia under the Third Republic, this book asks whether competitive electoral politics have improved or worsened the accountability of public sector management and spending. For this purpose, it examines the role and influence of the political leadership, parties, elections, parliaments, interest groups, the media and external donors. Questions raised include: whether the 'democratic' conditions prevailing in these four countries were sufficient to ensure that government was open and transparent; were they conducive to peaceful transfer of power from one party to another and to the introduction of new policies: and how responsive were expenditure decisions to wider society interests? To facilitate assessment, the book draws on the comparative experience of single-party regimes in Africa and Asia. Its general conclusion is that, on balance, the advantage in terms of accountability lies with the multi-party political system but it does not do so in every aspect or case. Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Accountable Governance and Free, Competitive Politics....Pages 3-9 Front Matter....Pages 11-11 Botswana: a Study in Political Accountability....Pages 13-62 Jamaica: Mature Democracy but Questionable Accountability....Pages 63-108 Sri Lanka: Democracy and Accountability in Decline (1948–93)....Pages 109-152 Zambia: a Wind of Change in Expenditure Management?....Pages 153-207 Front Matter....Pages 209-209 The Single Party State in Africa and Asia: Comparative Accountability....Pages 211-236 Multi-Party Electoral Politics: Comparative Experience and Conclusions....Pages 237-257 Back Matter....Pages 259-270 With particular reference to the multi-party political systems of Botswana, Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Zambia under the Third Republic, this text presents case studies in accountable government and the management of the public funds