RECONSIDERING DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA: THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF SOVEREIGNTY
RECONSIDERING DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA: THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF SOVEREIGNTY

Summary/Abstract: This article critically reevaluates the conceptualization of democracy in Africa, highlighting the disconnect between Western liberal models and the continent's unique socio-political contexts. It argues that externally imposed, Eurocentric democratic frameworks have often perpetuated elite dominance, hindering genuine sovereignty, justice, and development in postcolonial Africa. Drawing upon a wide spectrum of intellectual traditions—from Ibn Khaldun’s proto-democratic insights to the critical perspectives of Kenneth Arrow, Amartya Sen, Edward Nell, Edgar Morin, Noam Chomsky, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Federico Mayor Zaragoza, Raymond Aron, Michel Foucault, Pierre Bourdieu, Samir Amin, Jeffrey Sachs, Jacques Attali, and Omar Aktouf, among others—this article advances a reimagined, pluriversal conception of democracy. This model emphasizes collective agency, locally grounded governance, and transformative development, aligning with Africa’s historical, cultural, and political realities. The article highlights Boutros-Ghali’s focus on international cooperation and sustainable development, particularly in his Agenda for Peace (1992), which counters the often isolationist and top-down nature of Western models. Additionally, Boutros-Ghali’s developmental perspective, which frames development as a multidimensional transformation, aligns with Edward Nell’s theory of transformational growth, where development is not mere economic growth but a process that reshapes social relations and enhances human agency. In collaboration with Nell, Mayor, and Errouaki, this work demonstrates that such a vision requires equity, education, and environmental stewardship for sustainable progress. Challenging the assumption that electoral democracy inherently leads to economic growth, the article advocates for a context-sensitive approach focused on justice, sovereignty, and participatory governance. By addressing the failures of Western models, this article contributes to the ongoing discourse on democracy and development, proposing a framework that is both inclusive and rooted in Africa's socio-political realities.

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