There is a captivating quote in this op-ed on democratic struggles in Mauritania
As an old man asked me in Boghe, a small town on the Senegal River in Mauritania, “What do I care if my country is democratic or not? What does democracy do for me?” These questions haunt the Middle East.
Although it is something that seems plainly obvious, it is often ignored in much of the development work. We often assume that all people want democracy and will support it regardless of everything else given an opportunity. The reality, of course, is much more complex, especially when democratic changes that happen on the surface (i.e. introduction of elections) do not translate into real economic or social outcomes, such as jobs or incomes on the micro level.
More on making democracy deliver through private sector mobilization and advocacy here.
Published Date: August 20, 2008