Debates about the concept and relative importance of democracy in development have been ongoing for decades.
Should development be independent of democracy? Is democracy really good for development? Can development thrive in the absence of democracy? Those who advocate for democracy argue the system is more than just the casting of votes and promotion of sustainable, inclusive economic growth.
During the Annual Democracy Forum 2014, co-organized by the government of Botswana and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, a Stockholm-based intergovernmental organization, Devex caught up with several representatives from government, civil society, academia, the private sector and multilateral institutions from across the globe, and they suggested five reasons why democracy matters for development.
About the author
Sharon Tshipa
Sharon Tshipa is a media practitioner, writer and social entrepreneur based in Gaborone, Botswana. She currently works for Chinese news agency Xinhua and as a freelance video journalist for French newswire service AFP. Tshipa is also co-founder and chairperson of the Botswana Society for Human Development, a local NGO.
