Balancing Democracy with Service Delivery: Power Relations, Politics and Accountability in Cooperatives Supporting Emergent Livestock Farmers in South Africa

摘要: In South Africa, cooperatives are the primary institutions through which delivery of governmental agricultural support programmes for rural communities is realised. Although these governed by clear national guidelines that encourage transparency and accountability to their membership, in reality ability realise this may be compromised an imperative achieve service environment limited support. Drawing on empirical research undertaken at five Elliot area Eastern Cape Province, we examine extent they able balance democratic function with effective programme delivery. We show capacity local government reach out areas promotes heavy competition between programmes, resulting a highly skewed distribution benefits determined primarily how effectively each can ‘reach up’ providers secure them. This encourages elect powerful actors represent them because perceived have greater political ‘connectedness’ required access benefits. However, often less accountable membership therefore more likely disburse suit own vested interests. suggest that, under current conditions, process creating legitimate must strong leadership high degree ensure disbursed as widely appropriately possible members. Separating executive, judicial legislative power structures associated securing disbursement resources processes transparent, might most practical way achieving this. Ultimately, if state strengthened enable down’ effectively, need vest risk compromising egalitarian delivery, reduced.