The theories of
power underpin pluralism – power is
distributed, élitism – power is
concentrated and Marxism – class
conflict and economic power. Outside this, African nations have experienced
multiple coup d’états, corruption and plunder, structural
adjustment programs and rising ethnic tensions characterized much of Africa and
tendencies that interact causally. The forces of terror, mercenaries,
arms and narco-traffickers and smugglers have descended in countries in
conflict, fanning the flames of war, and profiteering from the destruction of
the lives of children and women.
Africa has
experienced multiple elections since the 1990s. Elections were relatively free
and fair in 23 African countries. In others, all almost all are uncontested
single party rule. There is no
simple or immediate identification of democratic transition problems as they
actually are; there is only a definition of them from a certain perspective and
towards a certain resolution.
Recognition of this fact would represent a significant improvement in Africa’s democratic
consciousness and practice. What are important in the politics of
democratization are not so much the problems of transition themselves as what
various, competing groups conceive them to be, in comparison to how the organizations
settle their conceptual differences.
What is presented
in this study represents an analytical endeavor in an effort to identify opportunities
for the evolution of pluralist political culture in Africa. These include naïve
realism in the articulation of democratic systems, ambiguity as to whether
civil society is the agent or object of democratic change and sustaining
livelihoods, the stress on institutional perspectives on pluralism and
inadequate treatment of the role of foreign agencies. The lecture concludes by
submitting the impediments for sustaining livelihoods and the consolidation of
democracy to build democratic rules and institutions.
https://quostentinos.wordpress.com/2015/08/19/power-control-in-africa-critical-confines-to-democracy-civic-engagement-in-sustaining-livelihoods/
