Democratization via Elections in an African "Narco-state"? The Case of Guinea-Bissau

Arbeitspapier

Recent development cooperation with Guinea-Bissau, focusing on good governance, statebuilding and conflict prevention, did not contribute to democratization nor to the stabilization of volatile political, military and economic structures. The portrayal of Guinea-Bissau as a failed 'narco-state', as well as Western aid meant to stabilize this state, are both based on dubious concepts. Certainly, the impact of drug trafficking could endanger democratization and state-building if continued unchecked. However, the most pressing need is not state-building facilitated by external aid that is poorly rooted in the social and political fabric of the country. Rather, it is grassroots nation-building that is a pre-condition for the creation of viable state institutions.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: GIGA Working Papers ; No. 123

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Sozialwissenschaften, Soziologie, Anthropologie ; Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior ; Informal Economy; Underground Economy ; Economic History: Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation: Africa; Oceania ; Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
• Subject: Guinea-Bissau ; elections ; democratization ; informal institutions ; aid ; nationbuilding ; institution building ; drug trafficking ; Demokratisierung ; Wahl ; Drogenwirtschaft ; Guinea-Bissau

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Kohnert, Dirk
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA)
• (where): Hamburg
• (when): 2010

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/47758
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET