Membe S K
Platinum Member
- Mar 10, 2006
- 1,389
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SHORTFALLS OF WESTERN DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA
Democracy can take different forms depending on nature and composition of the country in question. Democracy in the USA isn't the same as that in Canada. Likewiswe the United Kingdom shares monarch with Canada, yet each one has different form of democracy. However, Western democracies have four common constitutional and institutional pillars. First, leaders in these countries come to power via elections that are reasonably free and fair. Secondly, universal human rights, fundamental freedom and civil liberties are relatively upheld and safeguarded by strong institutions. Thirdly, separation of powers among legislature, executive and judiciary is relatively clear in its form and function. Fourthly, rule of law: impunity and immunity of government officials against laws is never entertained.
African democracy is examined in this post in terms of free and fair elections, human rights, rule of law and separation of powers. The post argues that unlike in many countries of the west historical socio-political composition and poverty challenge adaptability and hence applicability of strong democratic institutions in Africa.
AFRICAN MINIMALIST DEMOCRACY
Democratization of African continent has given birth to Africa's own brand of democracy. Not Western democracy but a strange version of western democracy. A minimalist democracy that to some varying extents disregards the very fundamentals of western democracy.
African minimalist democracy doesn't fully adhere to rule of law. Many countries lack strong and reliable constitutional and institutional means to constrain the powers of president, ministers and other government agents. Moreover the rule of law is very much abused by corruption in a form of bribery, nepotism and misappropriation of public funds. As a matter of facts according to Washington Journal of Politics in 2022 only 10 African countries scored 0.50 and above in a scale of adherence to the rule of law. Zero being poor adherence and One being full adherence.
Free and fair elections in African democracy remains a taboo to large extent. The democracy is very much characterized by multiple cases of shambolic and flawed elections aimed at installing authoritarian government elites with unlimited powers to repress and coerce their very own people. Past elections in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Gabon following a coup d'état, Liberia and Democrat Republic of Congo showcase a crude African democracy. As a matter of fact September 15 last year when addressing at the John Hopkins University the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, acknowledged the presence of such strange version of democracy in Africa.
Unlike western democracy, African democracy doesn't entertain much of protection of human rights, press freedom and individual liberties. A report by Human Rights Watch in 2022 shows an increase in human rights violations in Africa starting 2021. In the list of human rights violators are Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Nigeria, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Africa, Burundi, Cameroon, Uganda and Eswatini.
Amnesty International report 2023/24 highlights major events of human rights violations in Africa. These include forced eviction in the name of development in Uganda, Tanzania, and Benin.
Internal displacement in Sudan and DRC
Forced disappearance and extra judicial execution in Bukina Faso, Tanzania, Burundi and Eritrea. Crimes against persons with albinism in Malawi, Tanzania, and Angola. Female genital mutilation in Siera Leone. Forced marriages in Niger. Arbitrary arrest and torture in Botswana, Burundi, Niger, Ethiopia, Mali, Equitoria Guinea and DRC.
Separation of powers in African democracy isn't clear and highly questionable. The executive branch has immerse powers over judiciary and legislature in Tanzania. Also the doctrine of separation of power is infringed in Tanzania where ministers work for both legislature and executive (Sem Mnzava 2015). Moreover many constitutions of African countries don't allow judiciary to appoint and remove judicial officials, instead that power is vested in the executive branch. In Malawi for example, the parliament can nullify the Supreme Court decision by passing a law that invalidates the decision by the Supreme Court.
WHY CAN'T AFRICA REPLICATE WESTERN DEMOCRACY?
Nature and configuration of socio-political forces of many African countries challenge the applicability of western democracy. Historically after many African countries became independent democracy was never entertained for decades. Think of post independence leaders of the likes of Paul Biya in Cameroon, Mobutu Seseko in Zaire now DRC, Muammar Ghadafi in Libya, Julius Nyerere in Tanzania, Keneth Kaunda in Zambia who hang onto power for as long as they wanted. Some were even removed by a barrel of a gun. Not entertaining democracy went hand in hand with fighting opposition and silencing their own people who criticized their views.
Democratization of Africa gained momentum after the end of the Cold War. African countries found no alternative but to adopt western democracy, much so in response to monetary and political incentives from the west. Western democracy, however, functions under swiping generalization that practicing country is fairly homogeneous in terms of economy, political culture, religion, and ethnicity. Contrary to this assumption adoption of western democracy in Africa is hampered by polarization of political palyers and government functions due to rampant nepotism and variants of political culture, religion and ethnicities. As a matter of fact a study by Marcel Paret and Carin Runcinman (2023) shows a direct correlation between racial identity and voting decisions in South Africa.
Poverty and economic inequalities are major stumbling block in democratizing Africa. Research conducted by Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) in 2022 revealed that elections campaigns in Uganda and Tanzania are way too expensive for poor candidates to afford and that campaign funders influence government functions excessively. The results of the research by Malang Faye and Jimmy Nzally (2022) suggest that worsening poverty following democratization in the 90s induced the return of authoritarian regimes in Africa coupled with internal conflicts and civil war. Furthermore successful democratization requires strong economy capable of providing goods and services to electorate, if not voters may be compelled to either forsake democratic procedures or vote for wrong candidates or engage in vote trading (Leena Hoffman and Raj Patel 2022).
CONCLUSION
Democratization of Africa as per western democracy standard faces two main challenges. One is heterogeneity in political culture and socio-political configurations. The other is economic hardships and poverty. To overcome the challenges International community efforts are needed in two fronts: establishing strong democratic constitution and institutions and alleviating poverty.
Efforts to democratize Africa must match efforts to bring about human development. A certain level of development must be achieved to create economic homogeneity society if democracy is to advance in Africa. It weighs difficult, for example, for poor economies to finance strong democratic institutions.
JUST SAY I SAID
Membe S K
Mtama, Rondo Chiponda Lindi, Tanzania
Tel. +255689463664
email: smembe426@gmail.com
Democracy can take different forms depending on nature and composition of the country in question. Democracy in the USA isn't the same as that in Canada. Likewiswe the United Kingdom shares monarch with Canada, yet each one has different form of democracy. However, Western democracies have four common constitutional and institutional pillars. First, leaders in these countries come to power via elections that are reasonably free and fair. Secondly, universal human rights, fundamental freedom and civil liberties are relatively upheld and safeguarded by strong institutions. Thirdly, separation of powers among legislature, executive and judiciary is relatively clear in its form and function. Fourthly, rule of law: impunity and immunity of government officials against laws is never entertained.
African democracy is examined in this post in terms of free and fair elections, human rights, rule of law and separation of powers. The post argues that unlike in many countries of the west historical socio-political composition and poverty challenge adaptability and hence applicability of strong democratic institutions in Africa.
AFRICAN MINIMALIST DEMOCRACY
Democratization of African continent has given birth to Africa's own brand of democracy. Not Western democracy but a strange version of western democracy. A minimalist democracy that to some varying extents disregards the very fundamentals of western democracy.
African minimalist democracy doesn't fully adhere to rule of law. Many countries lack strong and reliable constitutional and institutional means to constrain the powers of president, ministers and other government agents. Moreover the rule of law is very much abused by corruption in a form of bribery, nepotism and misappropriation of public funds. As a matter of facts according to Washington Journal of Politics in 2022 only 10 African countries scored 0.50 and above in a scale of adherence to the rule of law. Zero being poor adherence and One being full adherence.
Free and fair elections in African democracy remains a taboo to large extent. The democracy is very much characterized by multiple cases of shambolic and flawed elections aimed at installing authoritarian government elites with unlimited powers to repress and coerce their very own people. Past elections in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Gabon following a coup d'état, Liberia and Democrat Republic of Congo showcase a crude African democracy. As a matter of fact September 15 last year when addressing at the John Hopkins University the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, acknowledged the presence of such strange version of democracy in Africa.
Unlike western democracy, African democracy doesn't entertain much of protection of human rights, press freedom and individual liberties. A report by Human Rights Watch in 2022 shows an increase in human rights violations in Africa starting 2021. In the list of human rights violators are Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Nigeria, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Africa, Burundi, Cameroon, Uganda and Eswatini.
Amnesty International report 2023/24 highlights major events of human rights violations in Africa. These include forced eviction in the name of development in Uganda, Tanzania, and Benin.
Internal displacement in Sudan and DRC
Forced disappearance and extra judicial execution in Bukina Faso, Tanzania, Burundi and Eritrea. Crimes against persons with albinism in Malawi, Tanzania, and Angola. Female genital mutilation in Siera Leone. Forced marriages in Niger. Arbitrary arrest and torture in Botswana, Burundi, Niger, Ethiopia, Mali, Equitoria Guinea and DRC.
Separation of powers in African democracy isn't clear and highly questionable. The executive branch has immerse powers over judiciary and legislature in Tanzania. Also the doctrine of separation of power is infringed in Tanzania where ministers work for both legislature and executive (Sem Mnzava 2015). Moreover many constitutions of African countries don't allow judiciary to appoint and remove judicial officials, instead that power is vested in the executive branch. In Malawi for example, the parliament can nullify the Supreme Court decision by passing a law that invalidates the decision by the Supreme Court.
WHY CAN'T AFRICA REPLICATE WESTERN DEMOCRACY?
Nature and configuration of socio-political forces of many African countries challenge the applicability of western democracy. Historically after many African countries became independent democracy was never entertained for decades. Think of post independence leaders of the likes of Paul Biya in Cameroon, Mobutu Seseko in Zaire now DRC, Muammar Ghadafi in Libya, Julius Nyerere in Tanzania, Keneth Kaunda in Zambia who hang onto power for as long as they wanted. Some were even removed by a barrel of a gun. Not entertaining democracy went hand in hand with fighting opposition and silencing their own people who criticized their views.
Democratization of Africa gained momentum after the end of the Cold War. African countries found no alternative but to adopt western democracy, much so in response to monetary and political incentives from the west. Western democracy, however, functions under swiping generalization that practicing country is fairly homogeneous in terms of economy, political culture, religion, and ethnicity. Contrary to this assumption adoption of western democracy in Africa is hampered by polarization of political palyers and government functions due to rampant nepotism and variants of political culture, religion and ethnicities. As a matter of fact a study by Marcel Paret and Carin Runcinman (2023) shows a direct correlation between racial identity and voting decisions in South Africa.
Poverty and economic inequalities are major stumbling block in democratizing Africa. Research conducted by Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) in 2022 revealed that elections campaigns in Uganda and Tanzania are way too expensive for poor candidates to afford and that campaign funders influence government functions excessively. The results of the research by Malang Faye and Jimmy Nzally (2022) suggest that worsening poverty following democratization in the 90s induced the return of authoritarian regimes in Africa coupled with internal conflicts and civil war. Furthermore successful democratization requires strong economy capable of providing goods and services to electorate, if not voters may be compelled to either forsake democratic procedures or vote for wrong candidates or engage in vote trading (Leena Hoffman and Raj Patel 2022).
CONCLUSION
Democratization of Africa as per western democracy standard faces two main challenges. One is heterogeneity in political culture and socio-political configurations. The other is economic hardships and poverty. To overcome the challenges International community efforts are needed in two fronts: establishing strong democratic constitution and institutions and alleviating poverty.
Efforts to democratize Africa must match efforts to bring about human development. A certain level of development must be achieved to create economic homogeneity society if democracy is to advance in Africa. It weighs difficult, for example, for poor economies to finance strong democratic institutions.
JUST SAY I SAID
Membe S K
Mtama, Rondo Chiponda Lindi, Tanzania
Tel. +255689463664
email: smembe426@gmail.com
