From poverty to power - Oxfam-Québec

2 POWER AND POLITICS I VOTE, THEREFORE I AMdemocracy work), but the relationship between market and democracydoes more closely resemble a difficult and stormy marriage than theblissful partnership portrayed by many Northern governments.Overall, the most plausible hypothesis is that economic growthmore often prompts democracy than vice versa. For example, in SouthKorea, economic growth gave rise to a new, educated business elitewho resented the heavy-handed involvement of the state in theiraffairs, a process many observers expect to be repeated in China as itsmiddle class grows. The hypothesis, however, raises uncomfortablequestions: does fighting for democracy in poor countries bring morefreedom, but at the cost of less growth? And in terms of a broad understandingof development, is that acceptable? Does the search forgrowth justify autocratic government and the denial of rights? Sincedemocracy appears earlier or later in different countries’developmentand has different impacts on poverty, inequality, and growth, the realchallenge is to understand how institutions, events, geography, andpolitics interact to determine these outcomes.PARLIAMENTS AND POLITICAL PARTIESThe workings of elected legislatures are often overlooked, but areessential in the construction of effective, accountable states. Historicallyweak ‘rubber stamp’ affairs in many countries, parliaments, orcongresses are often unrepresentative and frequently beholden topowerful political leaders for their jobs – a surefire way to curb overtroublesomeopposition. Women are notoriously under-represented,occupying only 17.1 per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide in2007. The most equitable parliament in the world at present isRwanda’s lower house, where women hold nearly 49 per cent of theseats. 112 Legislative bodies are often starved of funds and the basicskills needed to carry out their functions, and often isolated from thecivil society organisations, media, private sector, and trade unions thatcould help them carry out their jobs.Parliaments have in some cases started to assert themselves, forexample by providing oversight of budget processes in Tanzania, orrestraining presidents from overturning the constitution to seek athird term in Nigeria. Elsewhere they have demanded the right toscrutinise loan agreements with international institutions and have83