The Developmental States model first emerged from examining the successful state planned development process, utilized by the Asian Tigers, to employ millions, and increase the standard of living, through central government industrialization initiatives. This panel reflects upon the Asian Developmental States success, while contrasting and comparing the challenges faced by five nations of Africa, with five nations of Latin America, which are defined as Developmental States.
Features of the Development State:
1. The government’s role as the principal agent of development in the nation;
2. State control and mediation of workers’ wage demands upon employers;
3. A strong state capable of articulating its development goals through planning and executing its development plans;
4. The existence of a military uninvolved in politics;
5. The expansion of social services and infrastructure;
6. Persistent increases in the rate of growth, gross national product (GNP). and per capital income during an extended period of time;
7. A weak private sector;
8. Increased manufacturing output, with an active attempt to obtain rapid industrialization;
9. Government effectiveness in the delivery of goods and services;
10. National Development Plan that serves to unify the various sectors of economic, social, and infrastructure activities, by focusing on development as a whole;
11. Creation of a state structure intended for the purpose of development administration, as opposed to simply facilitating the administration of public services;
12. An authoritarian Colonial past that restricted development and was frequently hindered by a racially based economic system, aimed at sustaining the colonial state and a small minority, while restricting the development efforts of the vast majority.
In the context of Southern Africa, however, there are differentiations from the Development State model:
• Development itself need not be based on manufacturing
• Development in southern Africa can be based on industries derived from mineral extraction (e.g. rare earth mineral refining or diamond polishing), tourism and the exploration of the natural environment
• Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Perú, and México are examples of Latin American Developmental States. Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia etc. have legitimate claims to being African Development States.
