From Non-Interference to Good Governance: Shifting Perspectives on Development in Africa

The paper explores the shift in African governance from a policy of 'non-interference' to a proactive 'good governance' approach, largely driven by international donor conditionality and the end of the Cold War. It analyzes the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as a tool for African-led governance reform and the increasing, though inconsistent, role of civil society in these processes. The author concludes that while good governance is a desirable condition, there is limited empirical evidence to prove it is the ultimate prerequisite for sustainable development in Africa.

• The conceptualisation of governance in Africa has shifted from a traditional 'non-interference' approach toward a more proactive 'good governance' agenda, which is often a condition for receiving development assistance from international donors.
• The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) serves as a tool for African leaders to design their own governance agenda, moving from 'non-interference' to 'non-indifference', where the internal affairs of member states are viewed as a collective responsibility.
• A critical component of the APRM's success and legitimacy is 'African ownership', which is pursued by ensuring that resources for the mechanism come predominantly from within Africa rather than relying on external partners.
• While civil society's role in governance has expanded from mere activism to participation in governance processes, the level of state tolerance varies; for example, in 2005, experts noted high levels of state control and human rights violations in Kenya and Swaziland.
• There is insufficient empirical evidence to definitively establish a positive reinforcing correlation between good governance and sustainable development, noting that some Asian countries have achieved rapid development under authoritarian regimes.

APA

Khalil-Babatunde, M. (2014). From Non-Interference to Good Governance: Shifting Perspectives on Development in Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Occasional-Paper-204.pdf

Chicago

Khalil-Babatunde, Mouzayian. From Non-Interference to Good Governance: Shifting Perspectives on Development in Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2014. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Occasional-Paper-204.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Khalil-Babatunde |first1=Mouzayian |title=From Non-Interference to Good Governance: Shifting Perspectives on Development in Africa |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=October 2014 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Occasional-Paper-204.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{khalilbabatunde2014from, author = {Khalil-Babatunde, Mouzayian}, title = {{From Non-Interference to Good Governance: Shifting Perspectives on Development in Africa}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2014}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Occasional-Paper-204.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }