This work shows the various stages the economy of Cameroon went through since independence. It is an analytical eye and element to learn more about this state

1. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN CAMEROON AND
DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLEGE: AN APPLICATION OF THE
DECEPTIVE POWER THEORY
BY
FANDJIO MOUGANG BERNARD CHRISTIAN
UNIVERSITY OF BUEA
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBIC
ADMINISTRATION

2. INTRODUCTION
The Cameroon’s French –speaking territory came into being with the attainment of independence
from France in 1960, and with the subsequent plebiscite conducted in October 1961 to decide the
independent state of the English-speaking territory then called Southern Cameroon emerged as a
state with the unification of the two mandated territories which formed the Federal Republic of
Cameroon and was dissolved by 1972. The quest for economic stability of the nascent state
became obvious as one of the greatest challenges of modern nation-state is the survival of her
economy and the promotion of development. The end of the colonial period meant that a lot had
to be done for the economic survival of the state and its development objectives through the
choice of policy, which was that of joining international organizations (United Nations
Development Programme UNDP, 1999). Thus, the poor economic performance of Cameroon
especially with the dawn of the global economic recession in the 1970s, over-shadowed
Cameroon’s initial stride in economic growth and social development. As such ,at independence,
Cameroon through her policy options joined international communities and international
organisations in order to serve as a catalyst for development in the country especially in the area
of poverty reduction.
Economic Development
Cameroon like other countries confronted to the same socio-economic difficulties, poverty
alleviation, however, became a major policy concern and the government through the sixth
strategic axis of its Poverty Reduction Strategic paper (PRSP, 2003), undertook to development
and implement a national employment policy integrate to poverty reduction strategy. At this

3. point, we can say that Cameroon’s development efforts and policies were managed since
independence by a series of Five-Year development Plans until the implementation of the SAPs
during the late 1980s. six successive Plans were implemented between 1961 and 1990. Economic
policy objectives as well as specific strategies that were pursued during the course of each plan
fell within a general development ideology. Nevertheless, during the course of each plan, policy
initiatives were undertaken and changes in strategies that were initially envisaged in plan as well
as emergency changes were introduced. Thus, almost invariably at the national Assembly Budget
Sessions on the occasions, the president of the Republic announced new policy initiatives.
However, as expected growth in Cameroon was not achieved, the unfavorable international
economic climate in the mid-1980s, plunged the country into a devastating economic recession.
This led to the SAPs and the immediate effect of the policy was a rise in poverty and mounting
of debts making Cameroon become a Highly Indebted Poor Country ( HIPC) . From the late
1980s to present , development in Cameroon has been externally managed; initially through the
SAPs and later on through the HIPC and the PRSPs. Five phases can be identified in the
evolution of economic policy in Cameroon. The first phase, which runs from independence to the
late 1960s was marked by the continuation of French and British colonial economic policies and
institutions, with rather limited government intervention in the economy. The second phase,
covering the period from the late 1960s to the late 1970s, was one of the institutional
proliferation with the creation of an astonishingly large number of institutions with widely
varying structures. The third phase, initiated roughly since the late 1970s and covering the
preparation and launching of the fifth and sixth Plans may be called a reflective phase because it
marked the beginning of an effort to undertake major policy reforms that were well overdue,
particularly in the face of the stagnation in the economic policy exports sector and the poor

4. performance of the economy. The fourth phase began during the late 1980s with the
implementation of the SAPs and stabilization programs following imbalances in the economy.
The fifth phase runs from the late 1990s to present, covering the HIPC initiative and the PRSP
which was later crowned with the growth and employment strategy.
Third world countries economies are concerned with the economic, social and institutional
mechanism, both public and private improvements in levels of living for the masses of poverty-
stricken, malnourished and illiterate people of Africa and latin America. It is important to equally
note that these third world economies are also necessary for affecting rapid structural and
institutional transformations of entire societies in a manner that will most efficiently bring the
fruits of economic progress to the broadest segments of their populations Micheal Todaro, 1982).
According to him, there three basic task every economy must accomplish. The first is to
determine what goods and services are required and how much of each, and where and in what
manner they best be produced. The second has to do with the allocation of the aggregate or total
amount of goods and services produced; that is, the gross domestic Product( GDP) among
consumption by private individuals(food, radios, cloths etc) , consumption by society as a whole
in the form of government expenditures( police protection, roads, water health etc) , replacement
of capital stocks used up in the course of production( buildings, roads, equipments etc) and
future growth of the economy through new investment. The third is how to distribute its total
material benefits( national Income) among various members of the society- in the form of wages,
interest payments , rents and profits. There are various ways these basic task can be
accomplished, these rang from complete decentralization of decision making on the basis of the
private ownership of resources(market Capitalism), to total planning and control over publicly
owned resources( the command socialist economy). These institutional arrangements, that is the

5. norms, rules of conduct or established ways of doing things in the society are known as
“economic systems”. The economic system a nation practices depends on the way they decide to
accomplish certain basic task but it should be noted that most third world countries practice the
Mixed Market(capitalist) and Planned(socialist) economy where there is a varying degree of
private ownership of resources exist side by side with substantial public ownership and
participation in economic activities. Scholars like H.C Low and J.W Howe, (1975), claimed that
economic, social and political goals are common problems shared in varying degrees by most
developing countries. For example; wide spread and chronic absolute poverty, high and rising
levels of unemployment and underemployment, wide growing disparities in the distribution of
income, low and stagnating levels of agricultural productivity, sizeable and growing imbalances
between urban and rural levels of living and economic opportunities, antiquated and
inappropriate educational and health systems and substantial and increasing dependence on
foreign and often inappropriate technologies, institutions and value systems. For Gilbert Rist,
development is seen as a modern religion of sorts, a faith that people cling to against all odds and
evidence, a fetishistic term. Thus, development is a self-interested western project, which “has
never been more than the pretext for expanding the realm of the commodity”.
From the explanation of Micheal P Todaro, we can apply the Fandjio’s Deceptive Power Theory
which shows an honest way of deceiving an individual or the nation. It goes at the helm of
politics, politics in economies and even the so-called opposition and of course players in the
game of power and manipulation initiated by the government. . Looking at figure 1. Elites who
are at the top make decisions to secure their interest and fulfill their wish without any conflict
arising or resistance. This is because they devise strategies which will render the civil society
powerless and obedient of their will; real deception strategies( making an angel out of the devil)

6. so as to deceive the international system and the masses. After which they obtain a feedback loop
and study how to ameliorate their tricks.
Deceptive power theory applied
Figure 1
A
Elite Power( economic and political)
C1(Feedback) A1 (Deception) Techniques:
Promises
Bribes
Appointment
C B1(Decision) B
Masses InfluencedCivil Society
.Deceptive PowerTheory
Cameroon being blessed by a lot of economic potential still face serious challenges of
development and economic prosperity due to the economic system it operates. Cameroon went
below 0.2% of its GPA of 2015 by the end of the year 2016, by this time inflation rose to 1.6%
and it was due to the 7.4% increase on tobacco and alcoholic drinks. This was due to a number of
incidents that occurred in the country. As such I will use an example from this to explain the
deceptive power theory applied in Cameroon. The incident of the avian flu which brought a lot
of debates due to the manipulations which occurred leading to great loses without a resistance

7. mounted by the direct individuals involved. The elite power which is from the ministry of …..
brought forth strategies to amplify the news on the spread of the epidemic and of course most
important to be noted is the false information the elite sent out. That was done in order to secure
the market for the freeze chickens commanded from Europe. Most producers were allowed
themselves manipulated by the elites who gave promises alongside the devastating effects of
such an epidemic in the country. As such, elites having succeeded in getting the mind of
producers through their civil society approval of the situation, producers could not do otherwise
but submit to the deceptive will of the elites. Therefore, the producers who constitute the masses
did not resist the elites and accepted the great lost the witnessed and the false promises of the
elites. The response or feedback being positive to the elites, they now engaged into the command
of chicken from Europe and its sale here in the country. Thus, showing the movement shown in
the deceptive power theory found in figure 1 above. Great inspiration of this theory came from
the works of Nicolo De Benito De Machaivelli who posited that Human beings are essentially
egoistic and ungrateful with much reliance on emotions rather than intellect without forgetting
that, human beings are driven by two emotions ; love and fear, claiming if you make people fear
you through your authority and power and the skillfully usage of deception, individuals will
follow you enabling you bring forth strategies to deceive the masses and gain whatever they
desire without encountering any resistance.

8. Reference
 H.C Low and J.W Howe, (1975) Causes of Underdevelopment in Africa.
 Nicolo De Benito De Machaivelli. (1532). The Prince.
 Todaro, et al (2003).Political Economy of Inequality. New York: Chess and Baker.
 UN (2010). Rethinking Poverty Report on the World Social Situation. New York, UN.
 United Nations. (2000). United Nations Millennium Declaration. Resolution Adopted by
the General Assembly. A/Res/55/2. September 18.