Democracy and Africanness: Contemporary Issues in Africa’s Democratization and Governance (Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development)

This book examines the governance and democratization process in Africa, its history, trends, and prospects. Written by a diverse panel of experts, the book provides an intersectional and interdisciplinary analysis of Africa’s democratic environment. Chapters cover topics such as the evolution of democracy in Africa, electoral politics, gender, activism, human rights, and cultural diversity. Critically assessing the fit of democracy for African countries and offering strategies for the Africanization of democracy, this volume will be important for researchers and students interested in African politics, postcolonial theory, democracy, and governance. Foreword In Defence of Brutal Interrogation of Democracy and Its Place in Africa Preface Introduction References Contents Contributors Part I: Evolution of Democracy in Africa Chapter 1: The 1995 Constitution as a Tool for Dictatorship in Uganda: An African Dilemma of Constitutionalism Introduction The 1995 Constitutional Making Process and the Birth of Pseudo Democracy in Uganda The 1995 Constitution as a Shield of Dictatorship in Uganda Constitutional Amendments Used to Entrench Museveni’s One-Man Rule in Uganda Conclusion References Chapter 2: Public Participation in African Indigenous Governance Systems: Evidence from Pre-colonial Rwanda Introduction The Concept of Public Participation Governance Structure in Pre-colonial Rwanda The King, the Queen Mother and Abatware (the Chiefs) Abiru (Royal Ritualists) Judicial Administration at the End of the Pre-colonial Period Gacaca Umutware (the Chief) King’s Court Public Participation in Pre-colonial Rwanda Conclusion References Chapter 3: Democracy in Africa: Misrepresented or Tailored Introduction Democracy Contextualized Democracy in Africa Democracy in Africa: Prototype for Analysis Moving Ahead: Where We Are in Africa Conclusion References Chapter 4: A Consensual Democracy and the African Traditional Society: Promoting Africanness Introduction The Historical Origins of the African State System and Its Impacts Democracy and Consensus: Governance in Africa Examining Other Critical Governance Drivers in Democratic System African Traditional Society in Promoting Africanness Conclusion References Chapter 5: Democratic Transformation in Mali Republic Since 1991 Introduction The Political Management of the Republics in Mali Between Independence in 1690 and the Democratic Revolution of 1991 The Mali of the First Republic Mali Under the Second Republic 1969–1991 Political Dynamism During the Transition Democratic Evolution Towards the Third Republic in Mali The Factors of the Democratic Transition in Mali External Factors That Have Had an Impact on the Military Regime in Mali Democracy and Security Management in the Third Republic in Mali Conclusion References Chapter 6: From Ubuntu to Makwerekwere: Reinvigorating Belonging in Democratic South Africa Introduction Historicization of South African Migration Conceptualizing Ubuntu, Makwerekwere and Belonging Theoretical Exposition: Identity Politics From Communalism to Nationalism? State-Styled Discrimination and Tabloid Negative Reportage Denialism Revival of Local Populism Conclusion and Recommendations References Chapter 7: Conflicts Governance in Africa: Perspectives from the North-Western Highland Rangelands of Cameroon Introduction Methodology Situation of Rangeland Conflicts Governance Approaches to Rangeland Conflicts Rangeland-Related Conflicts Regulation of Cattle Movements Regulation of Transhumance Activity Indigenous Conflict Governance The Agro-Pastoral Commission Modern Courts Process Ad Hoc State Responses to Conflicts Non-state Governance Responses to Conflicts Conclusion and Policy Recommendations References Chapter 8: Social Media Threats and the Anglophone Crisis: An Interpretation of the Cameroonian Criminal Law Response Introduction Contextualising the Problem The Offences: Uttering (Oral) and Written Threat Offences Interpreting the Ingredients of the Offence of Threat The Actus Reus The Mens Rea Issues with Social Media Content as Evidence Admissibility of Electronic Documents What Is a Document? Burden of Proof of the Offence of Threat Preliminary Inquiry: A Means of Establishing Evidence Power to Order to the Locus-in-Quo and Carry Out Searches and Seizures Power to Intercept, Record and Transcribe Correspondences Power to Order for Expert Opinion Conclusion References Chapter 9: “Speak to be Heard”: Women and Deliberative Democracy in the Ugandan Parliament Introduction Deliberative Democracy and Women’s Voices in Parliament Methodology Women’s Voices and Deliberation in the Uganda Parliament Conclusion References Part II: Electoral Democracy in Africa Chapter 10: Norm Entrepreneurs or Norm Takers? African and Western Election Observer Missions’ Agency in Determining the Credibility of Zimbabwe’s Elections Introduction A Theoretical Review of the Literature The Constructivism Theory and the Norm Diffusion Model Theory of Motivated Signalling African Countries’ Contribution to Election Observation African Governments’ Preparedness to Subject Themselves to Election Observation Conclusion References Chapter 11: Elections and Domestic Peace in Africa: Assessing Peace Opportunities in Uganda’s 2021 Presidential Election Introduction Theoretical Framework for Elections and Domestic Peace Methods Findings and Discussion Uganda’s Electoral Foundations and Influences on the 2021 Uganda Presidential Elections Elections and Prospects for Domestic Peace in Uganda’s 2021 Presidential Election Extent of Institutional Support for Peace in Uganda’s 2021 Presidential Election Conclusions References Chapter 12: Impact of Election Boycotts on the Democratic Process in Cameroon: A Philosophical Appraisal Introduction Terminological Clarifications Colonial and Postcolonial History of Multi-party Democracy in Cameroon Indigenization of Cameroon Democracy Categories of Political Regimes Typology of Election Boycotts Justification for Election Boycotts Impact of Election Boycotts Positive Effect of Election Boycotts on Democracy Negative Impact of Election Boycotts Deceleration of the Democratic Process Election Boycotts and Single-Party State Consolidation of Power by One Man Election Boycotts and Tribalization of the Political Space Election Boycotts and Rule by Inferiors Towards a Credible and Independent Electoral Body Conclusion References Part III: Arts, Culture and Democracy in Africa Chapter 13: Art as a Social Process and Form of Democratic Practices in Uganda Introduction How to Respond Wisely Through Art and Fully Exercise Individual Humanity Art as a Social Process Through Creative Democracy Cultural Democracy and the Arts Participatory Democracy and the Arts References Chapter 14: Democratisation Processes Amidst Cultural Diversity in Uganda Introduction Theoretical Review on the Influence of Culture on Uganda’s Democratisation Processes Methodology Presentation of Findings and Discussion Uganda’s Inherent Forms of Cultural Diversity and the Democratisation Processes Strategies for Harnessing Democracy Amidst Cultural Diversity Implications for Democratisation and Cultural Utilisation Frameworks Conclusion References Index