Constitutionalism and Sustainable Economic Development

This book illustrates how a rule-of-law constitutional framework can drive sustainable economic growth through insights and case studies linking democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity.

Constitutionalism and Sustainable Economic Development in Africa offers an autochthonous account of the potential of constitutionalism as a framework for sustainable development in Africa. It begins from the premise that Africa's economic triumph is dependent on its constitutional architecture's being anchored in the rule of law, democracy and a political landscape that fosters and respects the protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms, including the rights and prospects of foreign investors. Cognisant of the economic and social realities of the African continent, such as poverty, hunger, economic inequalities, limited intra-African trade opportunities, and corruption, this book offers an alternative narrative of Africa's potential as an economic hub and force, especially in the light of contemporary developments and mechanisms such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Accordingly, this book advances a range of comprehensive arguments, case studies and country-specific perspectives on the relationship between constitutionalism and economic growth and development in Africa. Focused as it is on Africa, this work is aimed at academics, policy practitioners, government officials, economists, judicial officers, students and lawyers involved in the economic role of the State and private sector in Africa and, more generally, at any other person with a keen interest in Africa's development and economic trajectory.