Analyzing the Impact of Difference in Political Economies on Creating Different Levels of Development (Case Study: South Africa and Zimbabwe)

The adoption of each of the different systems of political economy in different countries leads to different levels of economic achievements and development. Neighboring South Africa and Zimbabwe, located in southern Africa, have completely different positions in terms of economy and level of development despite their commonalities in various human and natural fields. An examination of the two countries' political economics shows that Zimbabwe has been a Marxist economy - led by Robert Mugabe - since 1980 and that the liberal economic system has prevailed in South Africa since the early 20th century. Using a descriptive-analytical method, the present article seeks to answer the question that “what is the main reason for the difference in the levels of development between these two neighboring African countries?” Based on this question, the hypothesis is that the difference between Zimbabwe and South Africa in terms of development is due to the adoption of different political economies. The findings show that continuing South Africa's economic development following the liberal economy, before apartheid and after 1994, with the implementation of the Seven Liberal Economic Programs - including increasing the supervisory role and reducing the role of government intervention, implementation of industrial production development programs, development of local economies and participation initiative - on the one hand, and significant differences and improvements in Zimbabwean economic and human parameters such as GDP, economic growth, unemployment, life expectancy, etc. due to the implementation of free market political economy compared to the Marxist economy (1980-2008) on the other hand, confirm the above hypothesis.