Nearly all African countries have been independent for many decades at this point. Following independence, many of our countries did not experience democratic governance in the aftermath of decolonization, primarily due to factors such as civil wars, ethnic violence, and/or military junta rule. As a result, the degree at which democratic governance is present varies from country to country within the continent.
There is a growing subsection of Africans who contend that democratic rule has been largely ineffective for the African continent. They argue that democratic rule (or rather, the mirage of democratic rule) has not yielded positive results on the African continent, therefore, it is time for alternative approaches to be taken aimed at improving the lives of Africa’s population. There are various arguments put forth by those who argue democracy has been ineffective, such as:
- Democracy is imposed on Africa countries by Western nations
There are those who see democracy as a form of government imposed on African countries by Western nations. They would point towards the Western imposed political and economic isolation often experienced by African nations, such as Zimbabwe, Eritrea, etc, whose governments are viewed as being anti-democratic in nature. They see the imposition of democratic governance, as a continuation of Western imperialism in the African continent.
- Democracy is ineffective
Moreover, there are those who see democracy as an in-effective way of running an emerging economy. They would argue that in order for developing countries to experience greater economic growth, ruling governments need to be handed the authority to map out an effective path, without the restraints of unnecessary bureaucracy.
They would argue that, due to the nature of democratic governance, governments are typically encouraged to do what would be popular in the short term, to win an election. Rather than what would be beneficial in the long term but have short term negative consequences. The success of countries like China and Singapore is often cited as evidence that non-democratic regimes can effectively plan and develop their economies.
- Many African countries have never truly been democratic
Proponents of democratic rule would argue that many African countries have never truly been democratic. Rather, they would contend that many African governments would rather give the veneer of democratic rule. The government would maintain the facade of democratic rule in order to gain international legitimacy. This means that often elections are held in many countries with an already predestined result in-favour of the ruling regime. Therefore, elections merely become for-show events that happen at the end of the government’s term in office.
- Ethnic tensions arising during elections
The reality is that Africa’s borders had not been drawn up by Africans, rather they had been imposed on indigenous inhabitants during colonialism. That has meant that African nations are typically filled with differing ethnic groups vying for control over the government. Various civil wars have been fought within the African continent as a result of the struggle for power between ethnic groups. During election seasons, there is an ever-present possibility of this underlying tension, often looming in the background, spilling out into the open.
- Tribalism in the African electoral process (Identity Politics)
Another effect of Africa’s colonial borders on the democratic process is the emergence of identity politics. Rather than elections being about deciding between candidates’ ideas for economic and social advancement, politics become about the identity of candidates. The race, tribal identity, language, and/or religion of political candidates become their biggest priority in the eyes of voters. Which can often lead to the election of unqualified and inefficient leaders, who cause more problems than they can solve.
- Mob Rule/ Majoritarianism (Tribalism)
In African countries where one ethnic group has a sizable majority among the country’s population, it can lead to mob rule within the government. One manifestation of this phenomenon could occur if the interests of the dominant ethnic group are prioritised over those of all others. Another way this could manifest itself is through the promotion of one ethnic groups’ culture, religion, and language over others’. The amount of representation (or rather lack thereof) afforded to other ethnicities within business and government is another manifestation of the phenomenon.
In conclusion, as Africa grapples with persistent economic challenges, the call for greater reforms continues to intensify across the continent. Among the focal points of scrutiny is the efficacy of democratic governance systems. While democracy has been upheld as a means to foster transparency and accountability, the succes of its implementation and impact in Africa have been subject to debate. The discourse surrounding democracy’s effectiveness underscores the urgent need for further evaluation of its implementation in the continent. This discourse will be vital in navigating the path forward towards a more prosperous future for Africa and its people.
