Economic growth is a key requirement to ensure stability of post-conflict countries and advance reconstruction. Yet, the economy is one of the most evident casualties of conflict. When not just physical infrastructure but also legal frameworks for doing business become severely disrupted by civil strife, the first impulse of reconstruction is to act fast. Frequently, however, this urgency is not accompanied by legitimacy necessary to ensure local ownership of the newly created institutions.
In this Feature Service article, Wade Channell, senior legal reform advisor for the U.S. Agency for International Development, discusses the pitfalls of urgent lawmaking and recommends practical solutions. “The number one impediment to effective business legislation in post-conflict countries is the failure of drafters to include business in a meaningful way,” he says. To have a voice in policymaking, businesses need to establish associations, set the reform agenda, monitor the results, educate the community, and work with other advocates.
Article at a Glance
- Rebuilding the commercial sector is of utmost importance in post-conflict economies.
- Urgent lawmaking, while sometimes necessary, can undermine the long-term processes needed to ensure legitimacy.
- Meaningful business legislation in post-conflict countries requires private sector input. Business is a vital link in drafting laws that lead to effective economic policy development and reform.
Published Date: August 03, 2010