Is Democracy Relevant for Modern African Countries

Democracy is a system of government in which the views of the people are taken into account in the process of government. Majoritarian Democracy also known as constitutional democracy is a form of government which is cited upon majority rule of a society's citizens. Countries outside African that practice majoritarian democracy in the USA, Canada, etc. Further explaining majoritarian democracy, the views of the majority of citizens are rather accepted e.g. in decision making. I would begin by talking about both sides i.

e. if majoritarian democracy is good or not for the contemporary African States. For its being the best form of government for Contemporary African State.

There is one thing I know for sure i.e. there would be someone or a group of people who will not like a decision taken in the sense that everything one does someone would definitely have a problem with it of which the person would tend to disagree with it. When decisions are made in parliament for the wellbeing of its citizens and most people think that the decision taken would be of help to the state, then it is good because the minority view should not be taken leaving the majority’s view which has a lot of support.

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E.g. in my home like this my mum sometimes list certain foods we are to cook that day of which she doesn’t decide alone due to this, she decides on the majority of people who will eat that food and cook since those who will eat are many.

Even though this is not all that helps it is best because if she takes that of the minority the rest of the food would be left there for nobody to eat. So this also applies to decision making of which the minority views cannot be taken living that of the majority. According to David Arter (2006), a majoritarian system has no right to exclude a minority for participating in the democratic process but still, the views of the majority are rather taken in a majoritarian democratic state.

Talking about the majoritarian rule being bad is on the basis that it does not adhere to the principle of Equality i.e. the concept which implies that all human beings are free to develop their abilities and make choices without predijuce, stereotype, etc.(UNESCO). Due to this, it makes it a bad form of government for the contemporary African States. The interest of the minority is quitted even though they partake in decision making and bring out their thought and ideas about something. This doesn’t give room for participation of the minority in parliament since their views are excluded and that of the majority are taken. This can lead to violence and civil war which are not helpful for the wellbeing of the state.

Fascism also rejects majoritarian democracy i.e. form of government that represents the views of the minority rather than a disorganized majority. Another issue which makes majoritarian democracy bad is that when it emerges as a form of government that uses populist and nationalist in decision making and that there is little space for pluralism and scholars, this is attributed to have a connection with the USA Donald Trump and India the rule of Narendra Modi. The USA and Canada being examples of countries outside Africa practicing majoritarian democracy do not practice electoral system but rather simple plurality voting which is not all that helpful. Through all the following statements made on whether majoritarian democracy is the best form of government for the Contemporary African States or not, my standpoint is that majoritarian democracy is not the best form of government for the Contemporary African States due to the above explanations on its not been the best form of government.

To elaborate more on that majoritarian democracy would not help because it will lead to conflict and chaos in the country since their views are not taken it will make them feel inferior thereby bringing out certain words from their mouth to the other group which will lead to conflict. And conflict does not lead to peace and progress in a country's development. Also, the fact that the populist decisions are rather used makes the minority look down upon themselves of doing nothing better which will improve their wellbeing and personality. There have been numerous challenges caused by majoritarian democracy listed above and as the saying goes 'there is always a solution to a problem'. there is a way out to everything one goes through in life. e.g. There is an adage which goes like' if you do not sell your sickness you wouldn't get a solution to it'

Even though majoritarian democracy would not help, it is still used by certain countries and there is a way out to solve any issues it brings not all but the problems will be reduced. Majoritarian democracy can work better in Africa. According to Gerald Acho (April 26, 2020), certain African countries practiced majoritarian democracy e.g. Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe through research was trying to make his wife the vice president of Zimbabwe with the hope of succeeding him due to this he was then forced out of power, Paul Biya in Cameroon are also killing their own people, Joseph Kabila has refused to conduct elections after his constitutional two terms were over, etc. Concerning the Cameroonian sociologist, philosopher and theologian Jean-Marc Ella in his book 'My Faith as an African' asserted that if we view the world as a book whose meaning would be recorded and decoded i.e. we must remember to interpret the signs around us in terms of our own humanity and our cultures and traditions. With this, democracy in African must follow these solutions if it is to make meaning of its people.

Furthermore, majoritarian democracy can also work better in Africa by putting or setting up procedures like public education which will educate the citizens more on the need to introduce majoritarian democracy into the country. And this education(public)must entail the need to prevent conflict and war which will help curb these negative occurrences in the country. It will give the citizens more insight and knowledge which will help them think very well in doing things that would not improve the welfare of the state.

References

1. David, Arter (2006) Democracy in Scandinavia: Consensual, majoritarian, or mixed? Manchester University Press.p.15
2. Gerald Acho, Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations(HIPSIR) (April 26, 2018).