Political Economy of Elite Decision-Making in Africa

Session Submission Type: Full Paper Panel

Session Description

This session delves into the complex role of elites in shaping policy and political landscapes across African nations. The presented projects explore how elite influence, public participation, and political decision-making dynamics intersect. Collectively, they highlight the nuanced interplay between elite strategies and societal impacts, demonstrating how elite decisions resonate through policy-making, governance, and democratic processes. The papers cover diverse themes such as refugee inclusion, local governance, constitutional reform, and political candidate selection, shedding light on the subtle ways elite preferences shape political realities.

Shelby Carvalho's study critically examines elite policy preferences in African refugee inclusion. Lazare Kovo investigates elite capture of accountability institutions in Benin's governance. Lionel Ong offers a fresh perspective on political candidate selection in patronage democracies, challenging existing clientelism theories. Lastly, Julio Solís Arce's project presents an innovative approach to constitutional change in Ghana, underscoring the importance of consensus between elites and citizens. Together, these studies provide valuable insights into the intricate role of elites in political processes, fostering broader discussions on governance and democratic evolution in African contexts.

Sub Unit

• Division 12: Comparative Politics of Developing Countries

Individual Presentations

• Examining Elite Preferences for Policy Discretion in Refugee Inclusion - Shelby Carvalho, Harvard University

• Capture, Political Selection and Local Governance: Evidence from Benin - Lazare Kovo, Emory University

• Selecting Good Politicians in Patronage Democracies - Lionel Ong, Columbia University

• Creating Consensus for Constitutional Change - Julio S. Solis Arce, Harvard University

Chair

• Julio S. Solis Arce Harvard University

Discussants

• Claire Leslie Adida UCSD

• Jessica Gottlieb University of Houston