Combating Civic Cynicism

Abstract

The search for solutions to the problems of developing countries generally pits two contending perspectives: the structural and the value oriented. Structural theorists stress the importance of the development and reinforcement of institutions of government, along with the entrenchment of due processes. Accordingly, structural theorists tend to blame government and institutional deficiencies almost exclusively for the failures of countries to develop stable democracies and advance economically. A contrary perspective is that values, including cultures and traditions, are the primary determinants of democratic order and economic development. The argument of this book, to reiterate, is that political structures and civic values are coderived and mutually reinforcing.