The politics of finance: how capital sways African Central Banks

Dafe, Florence
External Publications (2019)

in: Journal of Development Studies (55) 2, 311-327

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2017.1380793
Volltext/Document

While there is a large literature on the politics of central banking its insights are difficult to translate to sub-Saharan Africa. This article addresses gaps in this literature by considering how the interests of those who control financial resources sway African central banks. Case studies of Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda demonstrate that variation in the sources of capital on which countries rely to finance investment helps to account for the pattern of variation in central bank policy stances. The analysis further develops and probes arguments about power derived from the control of capital in the context of developing countries.

About the author

Dafe, Florence

Social Scientist