APPP Working Paper No. 20. Cotton Sector Reform in Mali: Explaining the Puzzles

Abstract

The paper provides a detailed analysis of the still ongoing cotton sector reform process in Mali, explaining the delays and modalities of the reform in terms of the political, economic and social factors characterizing the Malian cotton sector. The purpose is to examine how externally imposed economic reforms get adapted and transformed in a home-grown policy process, and what such ‘endogenized’ reforms look like in countries where aid dependence is high, productive sectors are strategically important to a wide set of actors, and the democratic institutional context, though firmly established, is still very fragile. By shedding better light on economic reforms in African democratic contexts, the paper derives lessons on desirable forms of engagement by outside partners and experts.

Citation

Serra, R. APPP Working Paper No. 20. Cotton Sector Reform in Mali: Explaining the Puzzles. Africa Power and Politics Programme (APPP), Overseas Development Institute, London, UK (2012) 32 pp.

APPP Working Paper No. 20. Cotton Sector Reform in Mali: Explaining the Puzzles

Published 1 January 2012