Democratizing Citizens Participation in Public Sector Management: The Policy of Privatization among African States

Abstract

One of the emergent paradigms which has gained popularity in the international discourse is the new governance perspective. It is a perspective, which has given credence to democratization of ownership of capital and means of production. The Libertarians have contended that the activist state is too costly and ineffective, arguing that its benefits are simply myths and suggesting the reduction of democratic character of politics in favor of minimal state since it is believed that the state is the problem and not the solution. The intemational community appears to have adopted this as a global paradigm and a course, which modem states must follow to attract benefits of civilized states of Europe and North America. This is in contrast to the ‘Satanic Mill" in Karl Polanyi’s metaphor, which is capable of eroding the social foundation of state existence. This paper looks at governance-and itsfldemocratic character focusing on privatization as a process of ensuring the full citizens participation in public sector management. It examines the case of Nigeria, the largest democracy in Africa and suggests a novel method of privatization, which could guarantee full citizens participation, reduce corruption, guarantee accountability and entrench sustainable democracy. The paper disagrees with the phenomenon of deregulation, which it considers as anti-democratic and condemns the present privatization in Nigeria, which it considers as anti-people and at best exclusive.