In another article titled “Has Democracy Been Effective in Africa?” I discussed some of the arguments made by those who view democratic governance as having negative effects on African countries and their economic development. Although I personally disagree with these sentiments, I think it’s important to consider all sides of an argument when making a point. That’s why I felt the need to dedicate an entire article to presenting their arguments.
However, in this article, I will strongly advocate for democratic governance in Africa, as I see it as the best means to achieve stability and prosperity across the continent.
There is a reason why most of the most prosperous nations in the world currently are democracies. The countries where people are most free to express themselves and their ideas are democracies. This is not just a coincidence; rather, it is by design. The transparencry and accountability that are central to democratic systems ensure that the government works in the interest of the public. Moreover, the freedom granted to individuals in democracies manages to foster an environment of innovation and progress.
Even on the African continent, despite their shortcomings, most of the countries that offer their citizens the best quality of life (in comparison to other African nations) are democratic nations. Nations such as Ghana, Namibia, South Africa, etc., which rank highly on the democracy index among African nations, offer their citizens a much higher quality of life than other African nations that rank poorly on the democratic index. That’s not to say that they do not face major challenges; it’s just to point out how much better they are in comparison.
Often, the frustrations felt by many with the current state of affairs cause them to falsely label democratic institutions as the problem. They contend that for developing nations to grow effectively, governments need to have the freedom to do what’s best to improve the economy. So they would argue that democracy is too bureaucratic and inefficient. Moreover, they argue that in democratic societies, governments mainly focus on short-term goals to keep up with elections to the detriment of their nation’s long-term goals.
Although many governments in African nations would claim to be democratic, the reality is that many African countries are not democracies. According to the Economist’s Democracy Index, most African countries fall under the label of hybrid or authoritarian regimes. A hybrid regime is a system of government with both democratic and authoritarian characteristics.
Most of the highest-ranked nations on the index are located in Southern Africa. Even then, most are rated as flawed democracies, rather than having fully-fledged democratic governance.
Therefore, the argument that democratic institutions are to blame for the problems faced by the continent cannot be valid because so many countries have never truly had democratic governance.
While I would never argue that democracy is a flawless system, obviously, there are valid criticisms that can apply to democratic systems as well. However, it has been displayed time and time again over the years that it is the best system of governance that we have. Some of the biggest reasons why democracy has been so effective are:
1. Accountability
The ability to hold members of the government accountable is an essential component of democracy. The biggest problem with many African governments currently is that they lack accountability. As a result, corruption and abuse have managed to run rampant in many governments, to the detriment of their constituents.
2. Transparency
In democracies, the plans and actions taken by the government are supposed to always be made available to the public. This prevents corruption or other dirty deals from being made by politicians in positions of authority. Additionally, this gives the voters the ability to understand the plans of the government (or candidates) and make a decision on what policies they believe would be best, and vote accordingly. In contrast to governments that operate in secret, keeping the public unaware of what’s happening behind the scenes, which allows for the possibility of corruption taking place.
3. Equal representation
Due to the fact that many African nations’ borders were not drawn up by Africans themselves, there are many minority groups within many African nations. Under democratic governments, the rights and policy ambitions of minority groups will be better represented in the government.
4. Freedom of expression
A major feature of democratic societies is the ability to freely express yourself. This freedom allows people to say and act in ways that feel most like their most authentic selves.
This freedom also applies to the press. In democratic societies, members of the media are more free to conduct their duties of holding the government accountable.
In conclusion, while acknowledging the challenges and criticisms that democracy faces, it remains to be the most promising path toward progress and prosperity for African nations. Despite the complexities and historical legacies, democratic governance offers essential principles such as accountability, transparency, equal representation, and freedom of expression, which are fundamental for fostering prosperity in a nation, both economically and socially.
As Africans, it is imperative that we not to turn our backs on democracy but rather to continue striving towards its ideals. This entails advocating for stronger democratic institutions, promoting civic engagement, and holding our leaders accountable for their actions. By embracing democracy and working collectively to address its shortcomings, we can build a brighter future for generations to come, characterized by stability, prosperity, and genuine empowerment for all.
