By: Abigail Takavingofa and Caren Chidamwoyo, Final year students at Africa University: International Relations and Diplomacy Department
Africa continues to be a continent beset by political instability, economic stagnation and election bloodshed as the world struggles with the intricacies of democracy.
Despite being hailed as the solution to Africa’s problems, the classic Western-style democratic model has frequently failed to meet the region’s particular difficulties.
Election-related unrest has occurred in many countries, raising concerns about how well democratic regimes maintain order. In this regard we contend that it is time to investigate alternate routes to elections in Africa and to stability, using China’s one-party system as a provocative example.
Africa is home to a wide variety of political structures, from long-standing democracies to authoritarian governments. Election cycles in nations like Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, for example, have been marked by severe instability, frequently tainted by claims of fraud violence and corruption.
People may lose their right to vote and social tensions may worsen as a result of a lack of confidence in electoral procedures. Alternatively, some African countries have improved their electoral processes. Many people point to nations like Ghana and Botswana as illustrations of effective democratic governance in Africa. But not everyone of the continent can benefit equally from these achievements.
Many African countries have adopted multiparty democratic systems based on Western democracies since gaining independence in the middle of the 20th century. While this approach is in line with international standards that support political freedom and human rights, it has frequently been fraught with difficulties on the continent.
Disputed elections have resulted in political instability that has led to military coups and civil unrest in countries like Mali, Sudan, Guinea and Burkina Faso, since 2020, there have been nine coups in the Sahel region alone.
These events highlight the fragility of democratic institutions in some parts of Africa and call for creative approaches to governance that prioritize stability while addressing local realities.
Although the underlying causes of these disputes are multifaceted, the winner-take-all mentality that characterizes traditional democratic regimes frequently makes them worse. Alternative strategies that put stability and economic growth ahead of the goal of democratic purity must be taken into account in this situation.
Meanwhile, one such alternative is the one-party system, as exemplified by China. China’s Communist Party has brought extraordinary economic growth and stability to the most populous country in the world, despite frequent criticism for lacking democratic credentials.
China has made significant investments in innovation, infrastructure and education because the party is able to develop long-term objectives without being constrained by the need to satisfy a variety of political interests.
As a result, the nation is now a global economic powerhouse and has pulled hundreds of millions out of poverty. Of course, the Chinese model is not without its flaws and there is continuous debate about its human rights record. But for a lot of African nations, the appeal of economic expansion and stability can be more than worries about democratic etiquette.
Actually, some African leaders such as Paul Kagame of Rwanda, have already started to adopt elements of the Chinese model, placing a higher priority on stability and economic growth than on democratic pluralism.
The one-party system’s capacity to foster national cohesiveness and unity is another benefit. Politicians have taken advantage of ethnic and tribal tensions in many African nations, resulting in instability and bloody battles.
By definition, a one-party system breaks down these barriers and fosters a feeling of common purpose and national identity. In Africa, where many nations are still battling the effects of colonialism and erected borders, this is especially crucial. In addition, the one-party state model also has the benefit of enabling quick policy implementation and decision-making.
In Africa, where political impasse and bureaucratic red tape frequently impede progress, a one-party system can allow the government to act quickly and enact laws without being constrained by opposition parties. Better infrastructure, quicker economic growth, and greater public services are all possible outcomes of this.
Hence, the one-party system, according to others, is essentially dictatorial and undemocratic. Although these worries are legitimate, it is important to understand that democracy is not a universally applicable answer. The need of stability and economic growth may take precedence above the requirement for democratic purity in Africa, where many nations are still having difficulty establishing viable states.
Furthermore, the Chinese model has changed over time, adding aspects of democratic engagement and consultation, albeit in a regulated setting.
Conclusively, it is critical to take into account alternate routes to peace and economic expansion as Africa continues to negotiate the challenges of democracy.
Despite its flaws, the Chinese one-party system provides an intriguing illustration of how a non-traditional democratic approach might provide stability and development.
We urge African leaders and policymakers to be receptive to considering other strategies that put stability and economic growth ahead of democratic principles, even though we do not call for the complete adoption of the Chinese model.
By doing this, Africa might at last start to realize its enormous potential and establish itself as a significant force on the international scene.
