Making Democracy Work in Africa - Foundation Office South Africa
Discussion
Details
The democratization of Africa has reached a critical turning point. Polls show that Africans overwhelmingly
support democracy and believe it to be superior to any other political system. However, over the last ten
years, political liberalization has stalled across the continent and there is some evidence of a return to
authoritarian rule. It appears that Africa is no freer than it was ten years ago, although each country has its
own unique story.
The aim of the Dialogue will be to understand the future possibilities of democracy in Africa now that
multiparty elections have become common across the continent. An important focus will be how to make
these elections fairer, including the role of domestic, regional and international observers.
However, the conduct of elections alone does not ensure democracy. We will also ask how other important institutions—
including parliament, the courts, and the press—can be strengthened. Finally, we will ask about the unique
contributions that Africans in countries across the continent can make to their political systems so that
institutions reflect particular cultural, political and historic realities.
Key questions include:
- What is the state of democracy in Africa?
- How important overall is the political system and associated values, to economic development?
- How might elections be better and more fairly handled?
- What is the state of institutions that are critical for democracy, for example parliaments, judiciaries, the press, and militaries?
- How democratic are African civil societies?
- Should Africa develop a different democratic model to that advocated by the West? If so, what might that model look like?
- What is the most useful role that outsiders can play in promoting governance and democracy in Africa?