Africanization of Developmental State Model: On Rwanda’s Industrial Policy and Institutional Arrangements

ABSTRACT

We examine whether the Rwandan state’s choices emulate the East Asian model of developmental state. Our study unveils that Rwanda possesses a central developmental state feature—industrial policy with institutional arrangements—with an Africanization of the developmental state concept. We challenge opinions that oppose the replicability of this model outside East Asia by highlighting the importance of the cross-cutting feature of adaptation. Rwanda followed a flexible approach that allowed adjusting to its own context instead of sticking to a strict economic plan. The unique policy independence case of Rwanda raises questions about the possibility for other African nations to imitate its developmental experience.

KEYWORDS:

• Developmental state
• industrial policy
• political economy
• Africanization
• Rwanda

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).