Analysis Of Democracy And Development In Africa

Why with years of outside encouragement are most African nations still underdeveloped and at a standstill for progression? In the classic book, Democracy and Development in Africa, Claude Ake examines the two terms in the title and what they mean for the countries of Africa. Authoritarian rule, racism, and sheer ignorance to the African culture are where Claude Ake claims the problems for Africa’s developmental issues. The idea of the relationship between democracy and development began by theorist believing they go hand in hand. The thought process was that the economy in a nation state would determine the success of democracy, and the political status was dependent upon where economic value laid. In the middle of the 20th century up until

The European institutional framework being implemented on Africa was expected to generate a successful region, striving in wealth and liberalism. However, the structure of one area cannot be projected onto another if they are culturally different. The benefits Europeans reaped from their democratic economies typically stemmed from their success as authoritarian rulers in Africa, stripping them of all their resources that could have provided African states with a thriving economy. Whenever African leaders mentioned the fact that the strength of Global North economies had formed from robbing Africa, the Global North leaders would become enraged and upset at the idea that Africa was displacing the blame of their failing

The act of decentralization could possibly help or hinder stability in Africa. For decades the locals within African nation states have had no power, and the reallocating of power from one central location to a local level could be revolutionary. It will enable competition between locals for political power, bring together the community to discuss different issues, but could also create a new sense of hierarchy. In order for decentralization to be a successful reform it needs to maintain a level of democracy and trust. The new government needs to be the voices of the locals, spoken by locals, and for the regions people. This then will promote the new form of development that African states have been trying to