Exogenous political institutions? Constitutional choice in post-independence Francophone sub-Saharan Africa
Elgie, RobertORCID: 0000-0001-5334-4796
(2012)
Exogenous political institutions? Constitutional choice in post-independence Francophone sub-Saharan Africa.
Political Research Quarterly, 65
(4).
pp. 771-783.
ISSN 1938-274X
The study of the effects of institutions suffers from a potential endogeneity problem. This article proposes a strategy for addressing this problem by estimating the motivations for institutional choice directly. It identifies the motivations behind the wording of post-independence constitutions in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa. We find that constitutional wording in these countries has been motivated by the strength of ties with France. However, contrary to standard narratives, domestic political preferences have also been influential. By estimating the motivations for institutional choice directly, we are better placed to draw conclusions about the independent effect of institutions in this region.
Metadata
Item Type:
Article (Published)
Refereed:
Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:
Institutions; Constitutional choice; Endogeneity; France Neocolonialism; Sub-Saharan Africa