ABSTRACT
Development is commonly seen to be contingent upon good governance while good governance is the product of liberal democracy. The assumption is that development planning represents an exercise of instrumental rationality. A state that is plagued by corruption, rent seeking, or cronyism is incapable of asserting its rational agency. And where the ruling regime is thought to be unpredictable, inefficient and politically volatile, long-term investment is deemed unlikely. A stable, transparent and efficient government is thus seen to be providing the necessary environment for development. Such good governance is often assumed to be congruent with liberal democracy and the rule of law. It is often said that free elections, public opinion and a strong civil society are the common ingredients of liberal democracy that keep governmental power in check.
