What are the conditions for good governance in Africa, and why do many democracies struggle with persistent poverty? Drawing on a study of Nigeria since independence, I challenge conventional explanations for government performance such as regime type and oil wealth. Using veto players theory and original data from extensive field research, I link the political structure of the policy process to divergent outcomes across two broad categories of public policy. This generates a dilemma with important implications for African countries struggling with institutional trade-offs presented by different regimes.

Come celebrate the launch of the new book, Dictators and Democracy in African Development: The Political Economy of Good Governance in Nigeria by IPS Associate Fellow Carl LeVan, with special guests Congressman John Conyers and former U.S. Ambassadors to Nigeria; Princeton Lyman, John Campbell, Robin Sanders, and Howard Jeter.

Please RSVP.