What role do non-state actors play in the democratic process? Discuss. Bshf101

What role do non-state actors play in the democratic process? Discuss.

Ans: It is generally recognized that the process of building a capable state requires the participation of all the vital forces of a nation. A capable state is one that has all the attributes of a modern, strong, responsible and responsive state, a state capable of effectively discharging its duties of delivering security, peace, prosperity and other pubic goods to its people. Although the state has traditionally been considered as the focal point of this process, other sectors, including non-state ones, have an important role to play, and the importance of this role has grown significantly over the past couple of decades as the limitations of the post-colonial state in providing for the needs of its people have been made all too clear. It is thus important to identify these other actors and recognize those areas wherein they can contribute, and have indeed contributed, to the process, as well as to appreciate better their nature, their mode of intervention, the constraints hampering their action as well as to explore ways in which their participation can be rendered more fruitful and less problematic. But before we delve into the subject of non-state actors and their role in the creation of the capable state in Africa, it would be useful to look into just what the capable state is and means, and what it has meant for the African continent since the advent of independence half a century ago.

The following factor are as below:

a) Poor governance and managerial practices;

b) Over-centralisation of power in the hands of a small group, or of one individual;

c) Emergence of authoritarian/dictatorial/military regimes;

d) Failure/reluctance to devolve power and responsibilities to local authorities;

e) State corruption;

f) Ethnic bias, nepotism, exclusion of whole sections of populations;

g) Deterioration of terms trade on the world market;

h) Unsustainable levels of state intervention in delivering social services;

i) A crippling dependency syndrome on the part of populations heavily reliant on government handouts, and on the part of governments dangerously dependent on donor handouts.