Democracy and Development in Africa: Contending Issues and Prospects for the 21st Centuries

Abdulrasheed Abdulyakeen

Abstract


The study examines contentious issues related to democracy and development in Africa. Substantially relying on secondary sources of data collection to adequately reflect the issues involved in this study, an interdisciplinary approach to historical research was adopted using content analysis. The study discovered empirical evidence supporting the argument that leadership changes are frequent or uncommon. In both situations, these leaders choose to govern in countries with weak or non-existent institutions, allowing them to avoid accountability for their corrupt behavior and abuse of office. According to the study, some challenges that have slowed development are lack of accountability, transparency, and democratic government, which must be addressed realistically for progress. Making the African system run more effectively and efficiently depends on the characteristics and eccentricities of those in authority.


Keywords


Africa; democracy; development; good governance; political participation

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abdulrasheed, A. (2021a). Prospects and Challenges of the Arab Spring. A Discourse from Amilcar Cabral’s Perspectives on Revolution. University of Benin Journal of Administration and Development, 6(1).

Abdulrasheed, A. (2021b). The Dynamics and Challenges of Democracy and Governance in Africa: A Discourse Using John Locke Social Contract. Lapai Journal of Humanities, 12(1).

Abdulrasheed, A., & Daniel, S. (2020). The Political Philosophy of Kwame Nkrumah on Neocolonialism and the Current Debt Situation in Africa. FUDMA Journal of Politics and International Affairs (FUJOPIA), 3(8), 1–12.

Abdulyakeen, A., & Aminu, B. I. (2020). An Appraisal of Development Crises in Africa: Lessons from The Asian Tigers. Zamfara Journal of Politics and Development, 1(1).

Achimugu, H., Stephen, M. R., & Aliyu, A. (2013). Public Administration and the Challenge of National Development in Nigeria: Issues and Concerns. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(6), 112–118.

Adejumobi, S., Adesida, O., & Oteh, A. (1998). Evolving democracy and good governance in Africa: What future? In Visions of the Future of Africa. Abidjan.

Ake, C. (1981). A Political Economy of Africa. London: Longman.

Ake, C. (1985). The State in Contemporary Africa. Political Economu of Nigeria, 1–15.

Ake, C. (1996a). Democracy and Development in Africa. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press.

Ake, C. (1996b). Is Africa Democratizing? Lagos: Malthouse Press.

Ake, C. (2000). The Feasibility of Democracy in Africa. Dakar: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa.

Amadife, E. E. (1999). Liberalization and Democratization in Nigeria: The International and Domestic Challenges. Journal of Black Studies, 29(5), 619–645. https://doi.org/10.1177/002193479902900504

Anderson, L. (2011). Demystifying the Arab Spring: Parsing the Differences Between Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. Foreign Affairs, 90(3), 2–7.

Arezki, R., & Gylfason, T. (2013). Resource Rents, Democracy, Corruption and Conflict: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of African Economies, 22(4), 552–569. https://doi.org/10.1093/jae/ejs036

Armah-Attoh, D., Gyimah-Boadi, E., & Chikwanha, A. B. (2007). Corruption and Institutional Trust in Africa: Implication for Democratic Development. In Afrobaromater Working Papers No. 81. Cape Town. Retrieved from https://www.afrobarometer.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/AfropaperNo81.pdf

Ayittey, G. (2012). Defeating Dictators. Retrieved from Oslo Freedom Forum website: http://www.oslofreedomforum.com/speakers/george_ayittey.html

Bertram, E. (2011). Democratic Divisions in the 1960s and the Road to Welfare Reform. Political Science Quarterly, 126(4), 579–610.

Calderisi, R. (2007). The Trouble with Africa: Why Foreign Aid Isn’t Working. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin.

Campos, N. F., Dimova, R. D., & Saleh, A. (2010). Whither Corruption? A Quantitative Survey of the Literature on Corruption and Growth. In IZA Discussion Paper No. 5334. Bern. Retrieved from https://docs.iza.org/dp5334.pdf

Chant, S., & McIlwaine, C. (2009). Geographies of Development in the 21st Century: An Introduction to the Global South. Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Dahl, R. A. (1972). Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Democracy Index. (2017a). Declining Trust in Government is Denting Democracy. Retrieved from https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2017/01/25/declining-trust-in-government-is-denting-democracy

Democracy Index. (2017b). Democracy Index 2017: Free speech under attack. Retrieved from https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/democracy-index-2017-free-speech-under-attack/

Democracy Index. (2019). A year of democratic setbacks and popular protest. Retrieved from https://www.in.gr/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Democracy-Index-2019.pdf

Diamond, L. J. (1996). Is the Third Wave Over? Journal of Democracy, 7(3), 20–37. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.1996.0047

Dumont, R. (1988). False Start in Africa. New York: Earthscan / James & James.

Duzor, M., & Williamson, B. (2022). By the Numbers: Coup in Africa. Retrieved from https://projects.voanews.com/african-coups/

Economist Intelligence Unit. (2019). Democracy Index 2019. Retrieved from https://www.eiu.com/topic/democracy-index/

Fombad, C. M. (2002). Curbing Corruption in Africa: Some Lessons from Botswana’s Experience. International Social Science Journal, 51(160), 241–254. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2451.00193

Gutteridge, W. F. (1975). Military Regimes in Africa. London: Methuen & Co., Ltd.

Gyimah-Boadi, E. (Ed.). (2004). Democratic Reform in Africa: The Quality of Progress. Lynne Rienner Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781685857325

Hood, S. J. (2004). Political Development and Democratic Theory: Rethinkning Comparative Politics. New York: Routledge.

Huntington, S. P. (1991). The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.

Ibrahim, A. A., & Cheri, L. (2013). Democracy, Political Instability and the African Crisis of Underdevelopment. Journal of Power, Politics & Governance, 1(1), 59–67.

Igbuzor, O. (2010). Strategy and political succession. Abuja.

Igwe, S. C. (2010). How Africa underdeveloped Africa. Port Harcourt: Professional Printers.

Ikenberry, G. J. (2011). The Future of the Liberal World Order. Retrieved from https://www.foreignaffairs.com/future-liberal-world-order

Iriye, A., Lazzerini, E. J., Yang, R. H., Kopf, D. S., Bishop, C. J., Miller, W. J., … Cady, J. F. (1995). The World of Asia. Illinois: Harlan Davidson, Inc.

Karlis, N. (2018). New report classifies US as a “flawed democracy". Retrieved from https://www.salon.com/2018/01/31/new-report-classifies-us-as-a-flawed-democracy/

Kazeem, Y. (2017). What is a coup? These 40 African countries could help explain. Retrieved from https://qz.com/africa/1130009/what-is-coup-zimbabwe-joins-40-african-countries-that-have-had-coups

Klobucista, C. (2021). Africa’s ‘Leaders for Life.’ Retrieved from https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/africas-leaders-life

Knoke, W. (1996). Bold New World: The Essential Road Map to the Twenty-First Century. New York: Kodansha America.

Kofele-Kale, N. (2006). Change or the Illusion of Change: The War Against Official Corruption in Africa. George Washington International Law Review, 38(4).

Laslett, P. (1988). Jhon Locke: Two Treatises of Government: A Critical Edition with An Introduction and Apparatus Criticus. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Lawson, L. (2009). The Politics of Anti-Corruption Reform in Africa. The Journal of Modern African Studies, 47(1), 73–100. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022278X08003662

Lijphart, A., & Aitkin, D. (1994). Electoral Systems and Party Systems: A Study of Twenty-seven Democracies, 1945-1990. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Lindberg, S. I. (2004). The Democratic Qualities of Competitive Elections: Participation, Competition and Legitimacy in Africa. Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, 42(1), 61–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/14662040408565569

Lindberg, S. I. (2007). The Power of Elections Revisited. Elections and Political Identities in New Democracies. New Haven: Yale University.

Linz, J. J., & Stepan, A. (1996). Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation. In Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. https://doi.org/10.56021/9780801851575

Lord, C. (1984). Aristotle’s Politics (2nd Editio). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

Maathai, W. (2009). The Challenge for Africa. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Mariam, A. G. (2011). George Ayittey’s War on African Dictatorships. Retrieved from Ethiopian Review website: http://ethiopianreview.com/content/33222

Matlosa, K. (2003). Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Focus on the Southern Africa Region. EISA Conference on ‘Strengthening Democracy Through NEPAD: The Role of African Civil Society. Johannesburg.

Matti, S. A. (2010). The Democratic Republic of the Congo? Corruption, Patronage, and Competitive Authoritarianism in the DRC. Africa Today, 56(4), 42–61. https://doi.org/10.2979/aft.2010.56.4.42

McFerson, H. M. (2009). Governance and Hyper-corruption in Resource-rich African Countries. Third World Quarterly, 30(8), 1529–1547. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436590903279257

Menkhaus, K. (2007). Governance without Government in Somalia: Spoilers, State Building, and the Politics of Coping. International Security, 31(3), 74–106. https://doi.org/10.1162/isec.2007.31.3.74

Meredith, M. (2005). The State of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence. New York: Free Press.

Michael, B. (2004). What Do African Donor-sponsored Anti-corruption Programmes Teach Us about International Development in Africa? Social Policy and Administration, 38(4), 320–345. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9515.2004.00394.x

Mo Ibrahim Foundation. (2020). 2020 Ibrahim Index of African Governance - Index Report. Retrieved from https://mo.ibrahim.foundation/sites/default/files/2020-11/2020-index-report.pdf

Nwekeaku, C. (2014). The Rule of Law, Democracy and Good Governance in Nigeria. Global Journal of Political Science and Administration, 2(1), 26–35.

Ogbonnaya, U. (2011). Globalization, Culture and National Identity Crisis: The Nigerian Experience.

Oshiomole, A. (2010). The challenges of consolidating democracy in Nigeria-the role of Labour (Lecturer). Makurdi: Benue University.

Pallister, D., & Capella, P. (2000). British Banks Set to Freeze Dictator’s Millions. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/jul/08/davidpallister

Pande, R. (2008). Understanding Political Corruption in Low Income Countries. In T. P. Schultz & J. A. Strauss (Eds.), Handbook of Development Economics (1st ed., pp. 3155–3184). Elsevier.

Phakathi, M. (2018). An analysis of the Responses of the African Union to the coup in Burkina Faso (2015) and Zimbabwe (2017). Journal of African Union Studies, 7(3), 127–165. https://doi.org/10.31920/2050-4306/2018/V7n3a7

Piano, A., Puddington, A., & Rosenberg, M. Y. (Eds.). (2006). Freedom in the World 2006: The Annual Survey of Political Rights & Civil Liberties. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

Powell, J. (2012). Determinants of the Attempting and Outcome of Coups d’état. The Journal of Conflict Resolution, 56(6), 1017–1040.

Przeworski, A., & Limongi, F. (1993). Political Regimes and Economic Growth. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 7(3), 51–69. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.7.3.51

Rakner, L., & van de Walle, N. (2009). Democratization by Elections? Opposition Weakness in Africa. Journal of Democracy, 20(3), 108–121. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.0.0096

Roskin, M. G. (2008). Political Science: An Introduction. New Jersey: Pearson Education International.

Sabine, G. H., & Thorson, T. L. (1973). A History of Political Theory. New Delhi: Oxford & IBH Publishing Company.

Sandbrook, R. (1988). Liberal Democracy in Africa: A Socialist-Revisionist Perspective. Canadian Journal of African Studies, 22(2), 240–267. https://doi.org/10.2307/485904

Santiso, C. (2001). International Co-operation for Democracy and Good Governance: Moving Towards a Second Generation? The European Journal of Development Research, 13, 154–180. https://doi.org/10.1080/09578810108426785

Schedler, A. (1998). What is Democratic Consolidation? Journal of Democracy, 9(2), 91–107. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.1998.0030

Scher, D. (2005). Asset Recovery: Repatriating Africa’s looted billions. African Security Review, 14(4), 17–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/10246029.2005.9627584

Schumpeter, J. A. (1942). Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy. London: Routledge.

Schwella, E. (2013). Bad Public Leadership in South Africa: the Jackie Selebi Case. Scientia Militaria, 41(1). https://doi.org/10.5787/41-1-1053

Sundström, A. (2013). Corruption in The Commons: Why Bribery Hampers Enforcement of Environmental Regulations in South African Fisheries. International Journal of the Commons, 7(2), 454. https://doi.org/10.18352/ijc.370

Svensson, J. (2005). Eight Questions about Corruption. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 19(3), 19–42. https://doi.org/10.1257/089533005774357860

The Africa Report. (2019). Botswana Unravels: Unmasking Africa’s Democracy Poster Child. Retrieved from https://www.theafricareport.com/16645/botswana-unravels-unmasking-africas-democracy-poster-child/

Theobald, R., & Williams, R. (1999). Combating Corruption in Botswana: Regional Role Model or Deviant Case? Commonwealth & Comparative Politics, 37(3), 117–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/14662049908447799

Transparency International. (2009). National Integrity System Study Egypt 2009. Egypt: Transparency International. Retrieved from https://www.transparency.org/files/content/pressrelease/20110214_TI-S_Egypt_NIS_2009.pdf

Tronvoll, K., & Mekonnen, D. R. (2014). The African Garrison State: Human Rights & Political Development in Eritrea. Suffolk: James Currey.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.18196/jphk.v4i1.14406

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Editorial Office:
Master of Law, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta

Second Floor of Postgraduate Building
Jl. Brawijaya, Tamantiro, Kasihan, Bantul, D.I. Yogyakarta, Indonesia 55183
Phone: 08224531887
Fax: (0274) 387646
Email: jphk@umy.ac.id