Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Development Policy and Politics in Malawi

Abstract

Abstract The chapter analyses the historical perspectives on development policy and its implications for socio-economic growth in Malawi. Malawi faces a myriad of challenges emanating from its historical development policy that pose significant challenges to the successful implementation of its development agenda. Tracing the historical perspectives of Malawi’s development policy is, therefore, essential for the country to embark on the right path for socio-economic growth. Using a historical institutionalism approach, the chapter argues that Malawi’s development policies have not significantly departed from the pre- and post-colonial structures, with the agricultural sector dominating the developmental agenda. The chapter further argues that pre- and post-colonial agricultural production has consistently ignored peasant farmers as significant stakeholders in the development agenda. ‘African Capitalism’, as perceived by the country’s first president, aimed at rapid economic growth but, in the process, it created ‘exploitative’ developmental structures and investments that benefited a few politically connected individuals.