Democracy

Question 1

define democracy.

Answer 1

“institutionalised and competitive elections, along with respect for civil and political liberties” (Mustapha & Whitfield, 2009)

Question 2

which scholars define democracy as “institutionalised and competitive elections, along with respect for civil and political liberties”?

Answer 2

Mustapha & Whitfield, 2009

Question 3

what does the competitive model of democracy depend on according to Arriola (2012)?

Answer 3

competitive model of democracy depends on a strong, unstated assumption of symmetry between political actors (Arriola, 2012)

incumbent & opposition have comparable, though not necessarily equal, capacities to vie for office

Question 4

what is democratisation?

Answer 4

the process through which a political regime becomes more democratic

Question 5

when did the third wave of democratisation occur?

Answer 5

1989-2010

following fall of Berlin Wall in 1989

Question 6

what evidence is there of the third wave of democratisation?

Answer 6

in 1989, 2/3 of African states were ‘not free’, but by 2009, 2/3 were ‘free’ or ‘partly free’ (Freedom House)

after ‘third wave’ African regimes are ‘obviously more liberal than their authoritarian predecessors’, they have ‘profound flaws’ (Lynch & Crawford, 2011)

Question 7

which scholars said after the ‘third wave’ African regimes are ‘obviously more liberal than their authoritarian predecessors’, but they have ‘profound flaws’?

Answer 7

Lynch & Crawford, 2011

Question 8

why are African democracies known as ‘deviant democracies’?

Answer 8

Africa’s democratisation trend shows that poor economic development, low education levels, lack of cogent national identity, ‘weak’ political institutions, absence of democratic neighbouring states, etc, do not necessarily diminish the probability of democratisation & democratic consolidation

all these factors supposed to reduce chances of democratisation / democratic consolidation but Africa did so nonetheless (hence ‘deviant’)

Question 9

what evidence is there of a democratic transition in Africa?

Answer 9

1990:

• 1 liberal democracy, 3 electoral democracies, 19 electoral autocracies, 30 closed autocracies

2002:

• 1 liberal democracy, 16 electoral democracies, 28 electoral autocracies, 11 closed autocracies

2010-2024: democratic backsliding

• number of African countries that Freedom House rated ‘not free’ grew from a low of 14 in 2006 to 20 in 2021

Question 10

what domestic factors affect democratisation in SSA?

Answer 10

ideational element

elections & political competition

colonial legacy & uneven balance of power between executive & legislature

civil society

gender

ethnicity

Question 11

how does the ideational element affect democratisation?

Answer 11

have seen that institutions can be unmade even in strongly consolidated democracy so human agency / ideational element key to understanding democratisation

despite ongoing subversion of electoral democracy (Bleck & van de Walle), election turnout has remained constant which speaks to the continued belief in the idea of democracy

Question 12

what evidence is there of the ideational element affecting democracy?

Answer 12

Afrobarometer data

• arguably more important in understanding the actual people’s desires & beliefs, more so than what some scholars say

large majority prefer democracy

• amongst average citizen, idea of democracy supported

2/3 citizens expressed support for multiple parties

• suggests internalisation of democratic norm

Question 13

what does Durotoye mean by ‘lack of democratic dividend’?

Answer 13

support for democracy declining

the longer people don’t see positive change under democracy, the less faith they have in the system

despite ‘democratisation’ taking place, people on the ground aren’t seeing much of a difference

• in 2018, 62% willing / very willing to give up elections in exchange for security, housing & jobs, now 72%

the longer democracies don’t deliver on socioeconomic promises, the less credible it seems

• 2023 Afrobarometer data shows average levels of Africans’ support for democracy is well above 50%
• 66% of Africans (down from 73% a decade ago) favour democracy over other types of government
• 53% believe coup is legitimate if it gets rid of corrupt leader

Question 14

why is the ideational element affecting democracy limited?

Answer 14

‘lack of democratic dividend’ in Africa (Durotoye)

support for democracy declining; the longer democracies don’t deliver on socioeconomic promises, the less credible it seems

• 66% of Africans (down from 73% a decade ago) favour democracy over other types of government

despite democratisation taking place, citizens on the ground aren’t seeing much of a difference

• In 2018, 62% willing / very willing to give up elections in exchange for security, housing & jobs; in 2023, now 72%