Promoting Democracy In Africa

A Work In Progress

Background on the Issue

African victories in recent decades in overcoming colonial rule, apartheid and other Cold War era forms of dictatorship have marked important progress and empowered Africa's people.

While democratic advances have been made across the continent, serious challenges still remain.

Constitutional reform movements now seek to advance the democratic process in many countries.

Democratic institutions that are nurtured and supported by both international and local agents can lead to sustainable peace in conflict-ridden regions.

Parties Involved

All countries in Africa trying to reach a democratic state are involved in the hardships associated with the start of a new government.

Countries who support the spread of democracy in Africa are also involved in the issues presented when a major change in government happens.

Non-African countries can be affected by aide they give to countries trying to become democratic, or the change in government may affect the ability to trade.

The non-democratic countries in Africa affect all nations, especially if they are unwilling to be cooperative with other states.

Actions Previously Taken

Ghana, which celebrated 50 years of independence in 2007, has served as a shining example of stability and progress in the region.

Kenya was hailed as a bastion of peace and democracy, however flawed, on the Africa continent until the last presidential election.

The results of the election in December of 2007 were highly contested and led to inter-ethnic violence that displaced 600,000 people and killed 1,500.

Examples

In 2007, Nigeria avoided a constitutional amendment that would have allowed former President Olusegun Obasanja to exceed the constitutionally mandated two-term limit.

However, the April 2007 elections that brought Umaru yar-Adua of the People's Democratic Party to power were widely criticized as corrupt by both Nigerian civil society and international observers.

More Examples

In Sudan, a new government of national unity was inaugurated in July 2005, ending the longest civil war in Africa.

There are still serious fractures in Sudan's unity government, and it is critical that outside nations support the democratic processes and governance mechanisms outlined in Sudan's 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Definitions:What is Democracy

Democracy is a government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

This is different from most African governments in stability.

The countries of Africa are seeking relief from coups, misgovernment, and economic collapse, all which can be bettered by democracy.

Pros and Cons of Promoting Democracy in Africa

The primary justification for democracy promotion is the democratic peace theory. The theory of the democratic peace goes back to Immanuel Kant’s essay Perpetual Peace, which he published in 1795. Those who favor the theory of democratic peace suggest that people living in democracies traditionally do not go to war with one another. The means of the vote ensures that change takes place peacefully, instead of via violent interaction.

Those opposed to democracy promotion often point out that “democracy” is often a ruse for power politics. In other words, governments may manipulate “democracy” in order to serve selfish and ultimately destructive ends. In countries with major tribal or sectarian divides democracy may involve the majority group oppressing the minority. And after ten years of democratic reform in Africa, it is still almost unheard of for incumbent regimes to lose power through the ballot box. Instead “managed democracies” ensure that the power of the state is employed to achieve a favorable result.

Pros/Cons

Democracy is a universal value which knows no cultural boundaries. There is nothing in any religion, including Islam, which condemns the idea of allowing people a fair say in the way they are ruled. Individual regimes may use and pervert religion for their own ends, in order to bolster their authority, but their strongest opposition is often from within the religious establishment itself.

Those that reject democracy promotion often do so in the name of rejecting US imperialism. These theorists suggest that the US democracy experiment is a unique one, which reflects uniquely western and European values. To force those values on other countries is ultimately to interfere with their ability for self-determination and self-government. Therefore, expansive democracy promotion is a direct affront to these peoples’ cultures and will never succeed in the long run.

Pros/Cons

Democracies are more responsive to what the public needs, so there is no need for them to resort to violence as means of symbolic expression. Free speech provides another avenue through which to address the government and ease tensions that could potentially turn violent. For these reasons, democracies tend not to suppress non-violence with the end of gun or tank. In fact, democracies tend to have Constitutions, which ensure the government cannot violently suppress peaceful dissent .

Authoritarian governments can become democracies overnight but this can foster violence rather than do away with it. As democracies move from authoritarian governments to democratic ones, previously-suppressed ethnic and nationalist sentiment is released and can be manipulated by those running for office. This questionable use of nationalism by candidates is historically connected to violent uprisings. Peaceful protest is not a cure all and does not make anger go away. Also, peaceful protest can turn violent as the anti-globalization marches demonstrate.

Pros/Cons Democracies tend not to go to

war because the people do not want to send their sons into harm’s way, and because their military is under civilian control. For these reasons there is no valid example of two clearly democratic countries going to war with each other. Authoritarian governments, by contrast, may have no such barriers to whimsical invasions of other countries. Indeed, autocracies often use adventures abroad to divert attention from the corruption, oppression and economic failings of their domestic rule. Problems can then be blamed on foreign adversaries in order to rally support.

A governments using military force to change other governments is in itself violent and risks devaluing the democracy it seeks to achieve by making it look like an alien imposition. Doing the messy work of nation building once one has disposed of authoritarian leaders can severely deplete national treasuries and resources, in addition to risking the lives of thousands of young military men and women.Nor is the argument that democratic countries never go to war impressive. It may be true of a few mature western democracies, but there are many examples of countries with developing democracies adopting aggressive policies and going to war with each other.

Pros/Cons Democracy is good for the

economy, as its values of openness and accountability promote the rule of law and good governance in the people’s interest. The threat that the electorate will not re-elect them at the next election concentrates politicians’ minds wonderfully, and forces them to adopt policies which will make their citizens richer and more secure. In practice this means creating open markets friendly to inward investment and eager for trade, while reining in military spending and aggressive foreign policies.

The economic benefits of democracy are dubious, despite the attractiveness of the theoretical links between free elections and prosperity. Many would argue that the causation runs the other way, arguing that as an economy develops the rising middle classes seek to protect their property and business investments by pushing for accountable government which will abide by the rule of law. Finally, while integration into the global trading community might make countries less inclined to violence for fear of the economic damage they might do to themselves, there are plenty of examples of relatively prosperous countries using their wealth to fund military expansion and often war.

Pros/Cons

Finally, the issue of terrorism is incredibly important to contemporary discussions of democracy promotion. Those in favor of democracy promotion say that terrorism is a direct result of authoritarian governments. Democracy alleviates the anger, misery, and poverty that lies at the root cause of terrorism.

Those who are against democracy promotion frame the discussion differently; pointing out that democracy brings liberalization, which directly fuels the anger of the terrorists. Also, imposing a democracy risks allowing leaders who favor terrorists into power.

Goals

Make rulers accountable and answerable for their actions and policies.

Make citizens effective participants in choosing those rulers who are regulating their actions.

Make society as open and the economy as transparent as possible.

Make social order fundamentally just and equitable to the greatest number possible.

Problems

Many people across Africa see the western style of democracy to be extremely narrow and alien to African cultures.

Africans tend to respect and listen to their chiefs rather than the politicians.

Some people refer to Africa’s democracy as “negotiated democracy” where politicians go into a contest and when they lose, they negotiate for power sharing.

Solutions

Africa needs a form of government that speaks to its culture and traditions.

The chieftaincy institution should be strengthened to help build African Democracy.

The creation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is a recognition by African governments and political leaders that they and the countries they lead all have common problems and that here is need to seek common solutions to these problems.

Problems

http://www.africaaction.org/resources/issues/democracyhr.php

Resources

Civil Society in Africa?

The autonomous sphere between the state and the family or individual. This sphere limits governmental action (stops the entropy).

Artificial national borders enhance cultural and linguistic disunity…making it virtually impossible for an “autonomous sphere” to emerge. Some local level groups: age, ethnicity, religion,

self-help, local issue groups. No systematic integration of these groups into

the economy (subsistence production continues).

Democracy on the African Continent: Colonialism, Tribalism and the Future

Country Focus: Nigeria

Democracy

Is democracy an instrument? A tool for achieving value based goals? Human rights Justice

Is democracy dependent on the emergence of stable, diversified economies? What is the role of an independent civil

society?

Status – Liberal Democracy Commitment:

Benin Botswana Mali Madagasca

r Mauritius Namibia South

Africa

Country Status: Economic Reform, Multi-party Elections

Burkina Faso Kenya Malawi Mozambique Senegal Tanzania Uganda Zambia

Country Status: Development without Democracy

Burundi Eritrea Gabon Gambia Niger Ethiopi

a Rwand

a

Country Status: Collapse

Angola Cameroon Chad Congo Nigeria** Sierra Leone Somalia Sudan

Economic & Political Liberalization

Is democratization the only solution to systemic political crisis?

Are there economic alternatives beyond liberal market economies?

Does democracy spring from economic and social pluralism? For some this is indeed the true explanation for the

global spread of democracy. How would these scholars address China? Clearly there is a connection but it is not

necessarily causal (Thus, liberal economies may be a necessary condition of democratization but they are clearly NOT sufficient conditions).

Western models applied to Africa?

Western policymakers handicapped by their fundamental misunderstanding of African nations, the conflicts, the needs, wants, demands of citizens.

Equivalent to statement “Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy caused the collapse of the Soviet Union”.

Democratic formation is not linear.

History and Political Culture: Decolonization and Nationhood

“The scramble of Africa” Decolonization and the creation of national

borders for independence occurred quickly and according to the convenience of colonial powers.

Result is a continent-wide structure of countries whose citizens have little reason to identify with one another (nationhood) Cultural, economic, environmental, realities were

ignored Today extremely diverse groups of people must co-

habit as “citizens” Significant barrier to growth of a common identity

(nation)…no “glue”, no common culture.

Civil Society in Africa?

The autonomous sphere between the state and the family or individual. This sphere limits governmental action (stops the entropy).

Artificial national borders enhance cultural and linguistic disunity…making it virtually impossible for an “autonomous sphere” to emerge. Some local level groups: age, ethnicity, religion,

self-help, local issue groups. No systematic integration of these groups into

the economy (subsistence production continues).

Explanation for absence of civil society?

Predatory state in post-colonial era has pushed people out of a broader society.

Tribalism, ethnicity, kinship enhanced. These structures are so discrete that they

cannot produce a broad base of support for anything => no chance for democracy.

Modern tribalism the dominant organizational form in Africa today. Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Chad, Burundi Chronic violence based in tribalism, ethnicity,

kinship

Requirements of Democracy – Barriers in Africa

Accountability via communication.

Education, citizen identification of public versus private.

Pro-modernization values.

Africans dispersed in rural communities.

Absence of education, no systematic national identification.

Anti-modernization values (subsistence).

Religion provides social/economic foundation of traditional societies. Differences of faith are not reconcilable. This supercedes government action

and reinforces ethnic/regional cleavages. Extreme poverty keeps other citizens from participation in the political system.

Economic re-adjustment?

IMF programs have forced structural adjustment in many African nations.

In many cases programs have enjoyed some success but still citizens remain poor, and large numbers of citizens are poorer than before. Ex: Tanzania 50% of population at $1/day. Conclusion: economic development before

democratization? Sources of Africa’s problems? Itself,

international community, international trade system (complexity).

Africa and the World

Increasingly marginalized in global economy. Debt increases with few options for reduction. International community pushing democracy

but not promoting rational economic development, i.e, 50% of a national population cannot stay in poverty if democracy is to stabilize and expand. Equality of opportunity non-existent. Personal rule emerged post-independence, lacks

institutional foundation.

Nigeria

Population 120 million Independence 1960 Democratic transition:

1979, 1989, 1995, 1999

President: Olusegun Obasanjo

Religion: 50% Muslim, 40% Christian, 10% indigenous beliefs

Primary export: oil

Political Culture: Geography and Ethnicity

250 ethnic groups Size of the groups

varies Groups are

geographically concentrated Hausa-Fulani

(north) Igbo (southeast) Yoruba (southwest)

Political Culture: History 1800s dominated by various foreign groups

Goal of occupying groups: extraction of resources and exploitation of people for cheap labor (slave trade)

1807-1850 slave trade eliminated; Trade in goods continued

1914-1960 British colony Colonial government inappropriate to Nigerian political

situation, i.e., tribal divisions More authoritarian approach on the part of British

authorities One set of rules for the British Second set of rules for the Nigerians Consequence is conflicting message about democracy

Democratic institutions Authoritarian political culture

Religion

Religion reflects Muslim/Christian split from north to south Hausa-Fulani

Islam Militaristic Northern region politically dominant

Yoruba Christian (some Muslims or indigenous belief systems) Southwest region, part of the commercially dominant

south Igbo

Southeast region, part of the commercially dominant south

Christian

Nigerian Nationalism

Return of freed slaves World war II veterans Educated returnees Civil violence experiences

Coups prior to Biafran War Biafran War coalition Continued national recruitment by

military Domination of officer corps by elites

Effects of Fragmentation

Nigerians oriented toward political involvement are identified by Exposure to formal education Involvement in modern economy (participant

versus subject or parochial orientations) Pattern of involvement - clientelism Limited legitimacy of opposition High efficacy but low trust Political corruption problematic Two dominant democratic orientations:

Freedom and political accountability

Political Socialization

Agents of socialization Family, nuclear or extended (polygamous in the

north) Schools, valued as necessary to advancement

(community builders) Language, linguistic pluralism Newspapers, primary source of political

information but limited by illiteracy Mass media and propaganda – radio critical

source The state – launches propaganda Urbanization Religion

Political Recruitment

Politicization of the military Recruitment of officers from university

graduates Recruitment according to ethnic group

Transfer of officer corps after Biafran war 1966 independence movement of oil rich

eastern region Leadership of military and professed

belief in civilian rule Backing by administrative class Exclusion of strangers

Nigeria and the Niger River Valley