Seminar: Den herskende elites støtte til produktive sektorer

TIME: Wednesday, 30 November, 14-16

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, Strandgade 71, ground floor, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K

Ruling elites support productive sectors when it helps them to remain in power. In countries with competitive clientelism, however, there are often easier ways to remain in power than to support production.

TIME: Wednesday, 30 November, 14-16

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, Strandgade 71, ground floor, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K

Ruling elites support productive sectors when it helps them to remain in power. In countries with competitive clientelism, however, there are often easier ways to remain in power than to support production.

This is because ruling elites are primarily concerned with holding their coalitions together in the short term rather than in long-term development.

Uganda is an exemplary case to explore when and why ruling elites support specific productive sectors. When coming to power in 1986, the ruling elite had an explicit vision of transforming the economy from subsistence agriculture to an industrialized economy. And in subsequent years, Uganda enjoyed high growth rates.

However, almost three decades later, this growth has not resulted in economic transformation. This is because the ruling elites are increasingly vulnerable and are focusing on holding the ruling coalition together and on winning elections.

This means that productive sector policies generally aim at spreading resources thinly or at not hurting strong factions who benefit from the status quo.

But even under competitive clientelism, some productive sectors may receive sustained political support, and the Ugandan fish and dairy sectors illustrate that. The presentation explains differences between these sectors with reference to their relation to the ruling coalition.

The presentation will subsequently be published in an expanded version as a DIIS working paper in the EPP sub-series.

Speakers:
Anne Mette Kjær, Associate Professor, Aarhus University
Michael Whyte, Professor Emeritus, University of Copenhagen
Ole Therkildsen, Senior Researcher, DIIS

Programme:

14.00-14.05: Introduction; Ole Therkildsen, Senior Researcher, DIIS

14.05-14.40: When do Ruling Elites Support Productive Sectors? Explaining Policy Initiatives in the Fisheries and Dairy Sectors in Uganda; Anne Mette Kjær, Associate Professor, Aarhus University

14.40-14.50: Comments; Michael Whyte, Professor Emeritus, University of Copenhagen

14.50-15.00: Coffee Break

15.00-16.00: Open Discussion

Chair: Ole Therkildsen, Senior Researcher, DIIS

The seminar will be held in English.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Read more about the seminar and use the online registration form from the website no later than Tuesday, 29 November 2011 at 12.00 noon.

Please await confirmation by e-mail from DIIS for participation.