Electoral Process, Democracy and Governance in Africa: Search for an Alternative Democratic Model

Abstract

In search for answers to what is wrong and where to locate what is wrong with African democracy, this paper attempts to establish the validity of the nexus between elections, democracy and governance in Africa. The paper further argues that the feasibility of recreating aspects of Africa's past to develop an African democracy variant necessitates the need to move away from philosophy to concrete suggestions. Strengthening representative democracy will require institutional changes that draw upon the spirituality and traditions of Africa's past, which nevertheless take into account present day African politico-cultural imperatives arising from changing socio-politico-economic relations, perceptions, values, and attitudes.

Notes

In the search for sustainable African democratic order one may ask whether it is in our stars to be forever content with ‘democrazy’, a term often employed to denote the chaos surrounding African democratic practice. But there is ‘no destiny if there is no enterprise, no destiny if there is no plan’. See Orizu (1944, p. 59).

See Asiegbu (1984) on the hopes and dreams of post-colonial Africa abandoned soon after independence.

These figures represent the period in office of African leaders up to 2005. Some of them may now be out of office.

See also Kante (1994b), Duignan and Jackson (1986) on intolerance of opposition and Bratton and Walle (1997) on democratic liberalization following protests.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Frederick Ugwu Ozor

Social Sciences Department, University of The Gambia, PO Box 3530, Serekunda, The Gambia; E-mail: [email protected]