Understanding the Challenges of African Democratization Through Conflict Analysis

28 Pages Posted: 14 Aug 2005

Date Written: June 1, 2005

Abstract

This paper discusses the need for increased 'conflict analysis' during democratization attempts in Africa. Through a comparison of both structure and agency, the author highlights how current efforts at democratizing Africa continue to remain solution heavy and analysis light, with donor nations and agencies focusing primarily on top-down institutional and electoral reforms. Without sufficient understanding of how individual and group-level forces shape Africa's sociopolitical landscape, democracy, which is most often advertised as a solution to societal conflict, can actually precipitate conflict conditions. Purely structural reforms can potentially create highly competitive identity struggles within the grassroots, and in many cases, lead to conflict that derails democratization. Furthermore, certain instrumentalist African leaders, who lack sincere commitment to the democratic process, can easily manipulate ethnic divides in order to retain power. Multi-disciplinary and holistic analysis that is inclusive of theories grounded in structure and agency is advocated for increasing the chances of peaceful democratic transition.

Keywords: Africa, Conflict Analysis, Democratization

Suggested Citation

Barrett, Robert Sean, Understanding the Challenges of African Democratization Through Conflict Analysis (June 1, 2005). IACM 18th Annual Conference, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=726162 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.726162

Robert Sean Barrett (Contact Author)

University of Calgary ( email )

2500 University Drive, NW
Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4
Canada

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