ABSTRACT
This article provides the context for the contributions in this volume by looking at the relationship between democratisation and the state. While the state has been a major source, and resource, for corruption in developing and transitional countries, it is also the means by which democratisation moves beyond the issue of the vote to delivering those services and processes which democratisation promises. Refocusing or realigning the state, as well as pre-empting the potential for corruption that is also inherent in the process of democratisation, requires careful sequencing and coordination while re-engaging public participation must be undertaken by the state in ways that supplement a reliance solely on the party system to achieve the purpose of democratisation.
