What is it about?
This study builds on extant literature on autocratization by critically analyzing democratic setbacks, arising from widespread incidents of electoral and political violence in democratic processes in Africa. The study leverages on frustration-aggression propositions to analyze the politico-electoral dynamics in autocratization trends in climes where the incentives to use violence as power acquisition strategy have become a dominant norm either by the ruling elites who seek to remain in power (sometimes by all means – both legal and, mostly, illegal) or by the opposition groups seeking to dislodge the former. As a qualitative research, the study squarely relies on available documented textual materials and rich datasets developed by reputable international research institutes. The analysis of data reveals that autocratization is real, gradual and subtle in Africa, and it is fostered by weak electoral institutions that are helpless in checkmating the use of violent strategies to win an election, which is the most visible element of modern democracy. Based on these findings, deliberate efforts should be made to build and/or strengthen electoral institutions that will rise above group interests and group control and ensure equal playing ground for all political groups in the contestation for state power. This will guarantee stable democratic growth within the context of the democratic principle of equal political opportunity premised on one man, one vote in Africa.
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Why is it important?
The article provides insights on recent realities of autocratization within the context of African continent. Secondly and more importantly, the study leverages the information explosion and its availability on demand that characterizes contemporary times. This opens the scope to include findings of credible textual materials and observational datasets of cases of interest randomized over a swath of the African politico-electoral landscape.
Perspectives
The examination of extant literature reveals that autocratization is not only real, but also gradual and subtle in Africa, and it is fostered by weak electoral institutions that are grossly helpless in checkmating the use of violent strategies to win an election – the most visible element of modern democracy. Based on these findings, deliberate efforts should be made to build and/or strengthen electoral institutions that will rise above group interests and group control and ensure equal playing ground for all political groups in the contestation for state power. This will guarantee stable democratic growth within the context of the democratic principle of equal political opportunity premised on one man, one vote in Africa.
Uchenna C. Obiagu
University of Nigeria
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Autocratization Verity: Insights from Democratic Setbacks in Africa, The African Review, May 2021, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/1821889x-12340051.
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