Developing Political Culture in Fledgling African Democracies RL Vol XI No XLIII, CXXIV, MMXVII

Developing Political Culture in Fledgling African Democracies –

What are the Political Transition Elements that are Amenable to the Architecture of a ‘Western’ rendition of a Democratic State in Africa?

Public Lecture - RL Vol XI No XLIII, CXXIV, MMXVII

Costantinos Berhutesfa Costantinos, PhD

Professor of Public Policy & Sustainable Institutional Reforms

https://addisababa.academia.edu/CostyCostantinos

Abstract

At the dawn of political liberalisation in Africa, students, churches and labour unions are among civil society organisations that played a crucial role in resisting arbitrariness. These organisations have been spearheading the demo­cratic struggle well before the recognition of political parties & induction of pluralism. The leading role in the transition was without doubt played by the press, the pri­vate press in particular, which reported daily on what was stake in the repression of the pro-democracy struggle. Better yet the interdictions, the multiple trials against journalists have not dampened the combative fervour of a free press. It is assumed that the inception of transition signifies the end of a stable set of rules that depict the previous regime, and that the completion of the transition is marked by the establish­ment of a new rule equilibrium. Nonetheless, ethnic and religious purchased elections are prescription to perpetuate the new tyrants. Po­litical participation is not just a casting of votes - it is a way of life, hence, elections are vital, but not a sufficient, condition for democracy. Electoral bodies should develop ex­tensive indicators for democratic political culture development where the key to transition is the endowment of political rules and institutions conducive to democratic transition (Costantinos, 1996). Good economic performance de­creases the probability of losing while the provision of public goods in the election period affects the probability to accept an election outcome. High tertiary education enrolment, eth­nic religious fractionalisation increase the probability of contestation of election results by the chal­lenger when the incumbent claims victory (Ncube, 2013). Political factors, such as the strength of the opposition, multi-party system, civil incumbent and power alternation increase the probability of the challenger winning and taking over power. Abundant natural resources increase the probability of incumbent losing but then deciding to cling to power, where empirical evidence also shows that the type of former-colonizer of the country matters.

Key words: elections, political liberalisation, democracy capacity development, political rules and institutions, multi-party system, opposition, former-colonizers

See lecture here or https://www.academia.edu/34976733/Developing_Political_Culture_in_Fledgling_African_Democracies