The Fragility of Democracy in Africa: Are Military Coups D’état a Never-Ending Issue?
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Published:
Aug 31, 2024
Keywords:
Democracy, Democratic Fragility, Military Coup, Africa
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Abstract
Some African countries have in recent times been experiencing military coups, with not less than seven occurrences between 2020 and 2023, an act considered not to be unconnected to the failure and fragility of democratic regimes. This study examined the factors responsible for the resurgence of military coups in Africa and the possible end to undemocratic regimes by applying secondary sources of data, including textbooks, journals, newspapers, and magazines. The findings of the study revealed that the failure of democratic regimes is a result of the sit-tight syndrome/mentality of African political elites, unmanageable security challenges, extractive political/economic institutions, the influence of external powers, corruption, and socio-economic disparity, and weak political institutions of African countries. The study concluded that although the only alternative to unseat or displace undemocratic civil rule, military regimes had never fared better, while some have performed even worse compared with the democratic regimes they successfully plotted against. As such, military rule should not be encouraged under any guise, and people should become more active in their democratic participation to ensure solid democratic institutions that can compel whoever is at the helm of governmental affairs to comply with the tenets of constitutional democracy dutifully.
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Adebukola Olubunmi Ayoola, Solomon Ayantayo Ojo, & Oluwaseun Kugbayi. (2024). The Fragility of Democracy in Africa: Are Military Coups D’état a Never-Ending Issue?. PanAfrican Journal of Governance and Development (PJGD), 5(2), 80-104. https://doi.org/10.46404/panjogov.v5i2.5703
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Adetayo, O. (2023). Seasons of putsch: Why have coups become popular in Africa? Please complete this reference.
Ako-Nai, R.I. & Ayoola, A.O. (2013). Oil and debt management in Nigeria. Journal of Politics and Law. Canadian Center of Science and Education, 6(2), 178-184
Angalapu, D. (2023). The rising hope of democracy in Africa. CDD
Beaumont, P. (2021). Failed state? Why Nigeria’s fragile democracy is facing an uncertain future. https//www.theguardian.com/global-development (Accessed: December 12, 2023)
Bermeo, N. (2016). On democratic backsliding. Journal of Democracy, 27(1), 5-19
Borgognone, G. F. (2006). John Dunn, Setting the people free: The story of democracy. BELFAGOR, 61, 114-115.
Britannica (2023) Haile Selassie I Biography. History & Society. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Haile-Selassie-I (Accessed: December 4 2023)
Gardner, J. A. (2021). James Gardner reflects on the question," Is Democracy Possible Here?". http//:efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://digitalcommons.law.buffalo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1010&context=baldy_center_blog (Accessed October 10 2023)
Gberevbie, D. E. (2014). Democracy, democratic institutions and good governance in Nigeria. Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review, 30(1), 133-152.
George, K. K.& Kelechi, A. K. (2023). Insurgency, terrorism, and counterterrorism in Africa. Rowman & Littlefield. Books.
Grieco, G., Ikenberry, J., &Mastanduno, M. (2015). Introduction to international relations: Perspectives, connections, and enduring questions. Red Globe Press.
Huntington, S. (1957). The Soldier and the State. New York: Vintage Books.
Huq, A. & Ginsburg, T. (2018). How to lose a constitutional democracy. 65 UCLA Law Review, pp. 1-78
Kaldor, M. & Ivan V. (2002). Democratization in Central and East European Countries: An Overview.” In Democratization in Central and Eastern Europe, eds. Mary Kaldoren Ivan Vejvoda, pp. 1-24.
Kasali, T. (2020). Bad governance and political selection in Nigeria has a human cost. Africa at LSE. December 18. http://eprints.lse.ac.uk (Accessed October 20, 2023)
Khanna, V.N. & Kumar L.K. (2019). International relations. Vikas Publishing House PVT Ltd.
Mangla, S. (2015). Citizenship and governance. New Delhi: Kavari Books.
Mayall, J. (2000). Democracy and international society.International Affairs 76, 61–75
McGowan, P.J. (2023). African military coups d’état, 1956-2001: Frequency, Trends and Distribution. The Journal of Modern African Studies. 41(3), 334-370.
McKay, A., &Thorbecke, E. (2019). The anatomy of fragile states in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Understanding the interrelationship between fragility and indicators of wellbeing. Review of Development Economics, 23(3), 1073–1100.
Milewicz, K. M. (2020). Constitutionalizing world politics: the logic of democratic power and the unintended consequences of international treaty-making. Cambridge University Press.
Mimiko, F. N. (2007). Political and constitutional reforms. In Saliu, H., Amali, E. and Olawepo, R. (Eds.), Nigeria’s reform program: Issues and challenges, Ibadan: Vantage Publishers, pp. 303-316.
Narzary, S. (2015). Concept of good governance. In Mangla, S.(Ed), Citizenship and Governance New Delhi: Kavari Books, pp.17 – 45.
Nkrumah, K. (1965). Neocolonialism, the last stage of imperialism. London: Thomas Nelson & Sons, Ltd.
Nwokedi, E. (1997). The fragility of democracy in West-Central Africa. Africa Insight 27 (4), 258-264
Obasesam, O.,&Iwara,M. (2021). The failure of governance in Nigeria: An epistocratic challenge. Georgetown Journal of International Affairs. Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Washington D. C. http/www.gjia.georgetown.edu/washingschoolofforeignservice(Accessed October 20, 2023)
Ogbonna, E.C., Ayoola, A.O. & Odeyemi O.A. (2023). The Colonial Origins of African military and its implications for African politics. In (Ed) Sabella Abidde& FelixKumah-Abiwu, The Impact of African Military Leaders, Soldiers as Intellectuals, Nationalists, Pan-Africanists, and Statesmen. Springer
Ogueri, E. (1973). Theories and motives of military coup d’Etatin Independent African States.Afrika Spectrum, 8(3), 280-302
Okunade, S. K., &Ogunnubi, O. (2022). Humanitarian crisis in north‐eastern Nigeria: Responses and sustainable solutions. Journal of Public Affairs, 22(3), e2541.
Pickard, A. J. (2013). Research methods in information. Facet publishing.
Reuters (2023). Niger is Among the World’s Biggest Uranium Producers. https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/uranium-mines-niger-worlds-7th-biggest-producer-2023-07-28 (Accessed: July 31, 2023)
Rosvadoski-da-Silva, P., Gomes, R. C., &Deboçã, L. P. (2021). Theoretical Approaches to the Fragility of States: Proposal for a Comprehensive Model from Political Legitimacy in Statehood Construct. AdministraçãoPública e Gestão Social.
Rotberg, R. I.& Campbell, J. (2021). Nigeria is a Failed State. Foreign Policy. May 27. https://www.foreignpolicy.com
Scheppele, K. L. (2016). Worst Practices and the Transnational Legal Order (Or How to Build a Constitutional “Democratorship” in Plain Sight). Background paper: Wright Lecture, University of Toronto, 2.
Schmitter, P. C., & Karl, T. L. (1991). What democracy is... and is not. Journal of Democracy, 2(3), 75-88.
Schumpeter, J. A. (1994). Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy. Unwin Ltd: London
The Cable (2023). Full Text of President Bola Tinubu Inaugural Address. https://www.thecable.ng/full-text-tinubus-inaugural-speech-as-president-of-nigeria/amp(Accessed May 29, 2023)
Thomas, M. (2021). The Basics of Good Governance.Good Governance Institute: United Kingdom
Thyne, C. L., & Powell, J. (2019). Coup Research. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies.
Tilly, C.(2003). Inequality, democratization, and de-democratization. Sociological Theory, 21(1), 37–43.
Transparency International (2023). Corruption Perception Index 2022. January 31. Transparency.org https://www.transparency.org>cpi
UNDP (1997). Governance for Sustainable Human Development. United Nations Development Programme.
World Bank (2012). Resilience, equity and opportunity: The World Bank's social protection and labor strategy 2012–2022. Washington D.C.: World Bank.
World Governance Index (2022). The Governance Efficiency Ranking. https://solability.com/the-globa-sustainable-competitiveness-index/the-index/governce-caoital(Accessed September 20, 2023)
Yumeen, L. (2020). Blood Diamonds in Sierra Leone: How Colonialism Functions Today. Columbia Political Review. https://www.cpreview.org/blog/2020/11/blood-diamonds-in-sierra-leone-how-colonialism-functions-today(Accessed September 20, 2023).