Question

What places are there where democratic government is implemented ? Give examples.

Answer 1

From the US to Uganda, most countries grapple with a democratic deficit. Yet there is a popular perception that Africa lags behind the rest of the world in this most nebulous of political terms. This is despite the fact that millions of people elsewhere in the world live under regimes that can be described as authoritarian, oppressive and undemocratic, while millions of people within Africa enjoy the benefits of relatively good governance.

Former British leader Winston Churchill thought democracy was “the worst form of government, except for all the others”. His words lays bare the imperfections of what we call democracy, but also hint at how difficult it is to define.

1) Democracy is not spreading across Africa

Countries that describe themselves as democratic are members of a very broad church. They range from nations that respect citizens’ political freedoms and civil liberties to those that repress dissent and hold elections that are neither free nor fair. Just as other regions of the world display varied systems of governance, there are discrepancies among African countries too.

Can democracy spread at the push of a button? Read more

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s democracy index identifies four categories of regime: full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid and authoritarian. Its 2015 index shows uneven progress in sub-Saharan Africa, but notes a dramatic drop in successful “coups from within” since 2000, and says holding regular elections is now largely commonplace. Even so, the index only awarded full democracy status to Mauritius, a quiet achiever with strong rule of law.

Some countries defy the narrative of a democratic deficit in Africa, however. In its 2016 Freedom in the World report, Freedom House named Nigeria, Liberia and Ivory Coast among the countries with the biggest improvements in political rights and civil liberties. In Nigeria, 2015 was the first year an opposition party gained power through elections. Botswana, Ghana, Cape Verde and Benin have also been lauded as democratic examples.

This year, at least 16 African nations are holding presidential elections. Although elections do not automatically lead to representative governments, competitive, multi-party elections constitute a sine qua non for democracy, and regular ballots indicate progress towards ensuring citizens are able to choose their leaders.

Answer 2

From the US to Uganda, most countries grapple with a democratic deficit. Yet there is a popular perception that Africa lags behind the rest of the world in this most nebulous of political terms. This is despite the fact that millions of people elsewhere in the world live under regimes that can be described as authoritarian, oppressive and undemocratic, while millions of people within Africa enjoy the benefits of relatively good governance. Former British leader Winston Churchill thought democracy was “the worst form of government, except for all the others”. His words lays bare the imperfections of what we call democracy, but also hint at how difficult it is to define.1) Democracy is not spreading across Africa Countries that describe themselves as democratic are members of a very broad church.