Africanization of Developmental State Model: On Rwanda's Industrial Policy and Institutional Arrangements

We examine whether the Rwandan state's choices emulate the East Asian model of developmental state. Our study unveils that Rwanda possesses a central developmental state feature-industrial policy with institutional arrangements-with an Africanization of the developmental state concept. We challenge opinions that oppose the replicability of this model outside East Asia by highlighting the importance of the cross-cutting feature of adaptation. Rwanda followed aflexible approach that allowed adjusting to its own context instead of sticking to a stricteconomic plan. The unique policy independence case of Rwanda raises questions about the possibility for other African nations to imitate its developmental experience.