Democracy in Africa has only flourished for 20 years or so, facing many problems some unique to certain countries and some broad that encompass a majority of countries. In a small quantity of countries, autocrats are still in power and or are divided in war. However, most countries have multiparty elections more frequently. Nonetheless, a majority of these counties engage in this mock democracy, which has certain aspects of democracy but the actions make it not truly a democracy. For example, there has been instances in many different countries in which the incumbents exploit the power of the state to either allow them more electoral power or of winning the elections. The main reasons for why this is allowed to happen is that the executive
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The most plausible reasoning stems from the idea that Africa became more global, and its economy became more dependent on other countries. The international norm is to have peaceful transitions between politicians, so perhaps African leaders realized that in order to remain in a positive light in the international community they must obey to some norms. For instance, Posner and Young explain their data in which “eighteen directly elected presidents who faced term limits heard strong calls from their supporters to find a way to stay in power.” (Posner, Young 132) However, nine announced that they will respect the Constitution and not run for a third time. These officials didn’t specify why they didn’t either try to amend the Constitution or why they didn’t just ignore the Constitution. They had supporters who most likely who have supporter the officials in running for a third term in obtaining the third term perhaps even by using force. Nonetheless, as Young and Posner describe “they agreed to relinquish power because the constitutional prohibition on extending their rule raised the cost of staying in power beyond a level that they were willing to bear.” (Young, Posner 133) Young and Posner do not specify a reason as to why the cost was raised, but allude to the idea that perhaps it was from the opposition from power coalition. If this is true then democracy is seen to be taking action because people are able to show their disapproval without fear of being violently oppressed, and their voices are strong enough that the incumbent listens. It is also suggesting that the Constitution is more important than a violent overturn to stay in power, which is important because some of the exclusive executive power is beginning to be shifted away and into the law which is necessary. Although, some politicians are able to amend the Constitution whether that be most likely because
The most plausible reasoning stems from the idea that Africa became more global, and its economy became more dependent on other countries. The international norm is to have peaceful transitions between politicians, so perhaps African leaders realized that in order to remain in a positive light in the international community they must obey to some norms. For instance, Posner and Young explain their data in which “eighteen directly elected presidents who faced term limits heard strong calls from their supporters to find a way to stay in power.” (Posner, Young 132) However, nine announced that they will respect the Constitution and not run for a third time. These officials didn’t specify why they didn’t either try to amend the Constitution or why they didn’t just ignore the Constitution. They had supporters who most likely who have supporter the officials in running for a third term in obtaining the third term perhaps even by using force. Nonetheless, as Young and Posner describe “they agreed to relinquish power because the constitutional prohibition on extending their rule raised the cost of staying in power beyond a level that they were willing to bear.” (Young, Posner 133) Young and Posner do not specify a reason as to why the cost was raised, but allude to the idea that perhaps it was from the opposition from power coalition. If this is true then democracy is seen to be taking action because people are able to show their disapproval without fear of being violently oppressed, and their voices are strong enough that the incumbent listens. It is also suggesting that the Constitution is more important than a violent overturn to stay in power, which is important because some of the exclusive executive power is beginning to be shifted away and into the law which is necessary. Although, some politicians are able to amend the Constitution whether that be most likely because