What are the main impediments to democracy in Africa

Essay from the year 2002 in the subject Politics - Region: Africa, grade: 2,0 (B), University of Southampton (Department of Politics), course: Africa - Culture and Political Systems, language: English, abstract: Democracy in Africa has been shaped by the colonial powers that ran Africa until the periodof decolonisation that began in the 1960 s. Thereafter Africa has attempted to follow theEuropean model of democratic governance. However, whilst African democracy has shownsome improvement, it is still having legitimacy problems and African states are characterisedby corruption and autocracy. This report will highlight the impediments to the furthering of democracy in Africa and whatcan be done to increase the role of democracy in African States. There will be a focus on therole played by colonialism and the ethnic divides that exist in Africa. We will then examinehow corruption and the economic problems of African States are restraining democraticlegitimacy and the effect these problems have on human rights. Lastly, we will concentrate onthe role that other state and non-state actors have on democracy in Africa. However, before looking at these aspects of the debate, it is important to understanddemocracy and its basis. Democracy is not a single approach but rather a commitment tocertain institutions such as the rule of law, civil society and political accountability throughfree and fair elections by an electorate based on universal suffrage. It also includes (to avarying degree) freedom of speech, the development of a civic culture and the acceptance of asocial contract.