[Civsoc-mw] Wash Post opinion piece on aid to promote Democ in Africa

Fri Aug 16 09:04:39 CAT 2019

Good read

On Fri, 16 Aug 2019, 08:08 <cammack at mweb.co.za wrote:

> DemocracyPost <https://www.washingtonpost.com/global-opinions/> Opinion
>
> *Why the international community should prioritize democracy over
> development in Africa*
>
> Add to list
>
>
> Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita talks with an official during the
> swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected president of Mauritania at a
> conference center in Nouakchott on Aug. 1. (Seyllou/AFP/Getty Images)
>
> By Jeffrey Smith
>
> August 15 at 2:13 PM
>
> *Jeffrey Smith is the founding director of Vanguard Africa and the
> Vanguard Africa Foundation, which support pro-democracy initiatives and
> free and fair elections across Africa.*
>
> By now it’s no secret: Democracy is under attack worldwide.
> <https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/01/08/the-retreat-of-global-democracy-stopped-in-2018>
> A Who’s Who of selfish leaders, from ascendant populist demagogues to
> long-reigning dictators, has turbocharged the assault on democratic
> institutions. Leaders on both the right and left of the political spectrum
> have elbowed their way into the fight, and the contagion has affected all
> regions of the world. It also shows little sign
> <https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2019> of
> abating.
>
> This corroding commitment to democracy on the part of political elites has
> naturally filtered down to the average person. According to a recent
> survey, a median of 51 percent of people polled in 27 countries are
> dissatisfied
> <https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2019/04/29/many-across-the-globe-are-dissatisfied-with-how-democracy-is-working/>
> with how democracy is working for them.
>
> Yet there is one region of the world that is following a different trend.
> Data shows that an overwhelming majority
> <http://afrobarometer.org/publications/pp58-africans-want-open-elections-especially-if-they-bring-change>
> of Africans believe that democracy remains the best form of government and
> that free, fair and multiparty elections remain the ideal way to choose
> their leaders. While voter turnout is declining globally
> <https://qz.com/899586/global-voter-turnout-is-dropping-dramatically-across-the-world/>,
> it has been relatively stable in Africa over the past few decades. To
> paraphrase
> <https://theconversation-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/theconversation.com/amp/democracy-in-africa-success-stories-that-have-defied-the-odds-120601>
> a notable scholar: While people are questioning the value of democracy,
> especially in many Western states, African populations who have experienced
> one-party or military rule are prepared to fight the resurgence of
> authoritarianism.
>
> National leaders, however, often disagree. Africa’s three most recent
> elections illustrate the resulting divide
> <https://www.afrobarometer.org/publications/pp54-democracy-africa-demand-supply-and-dissatisfied-democrat>
> .
>
> Benin
> <https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/04/world/africa/benin-protests-talon-yayi.html>,
> Malawi
> <https://www.ft.com/content/5f0efdba-ade1-11e9-8030-530adfa879c2?segmentid=acee4131-99c2-09d3-a635-873e61754ec6>
> and Mauritania
> <https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/07/23/mauritania-widespread-arrests-blunt-backlash-over-election>,
> while quite different from each other in many respects, have all endured
> post-election fallout resulting in violence, mass arrests, the targeting of
> activists and various court challenges. The discontent is fueled by
> assumptions that those in power imposed themselves by force or illegality
> rather than fairly by the ballot box.
>
> While these inevitable breaking points are evident, they are also
> avoidable. All three countries are part of a trend in which significant
> resources have been spent on so-called nonpolitical development
> initiatives, including public health and education. This safe and rather
> noncontroversial approach keeps grant managers and donors happy.
>
> But it also helps to empower and further entrench abusive leaders, in
> Africa and elsewhere. To be blunt: Modern authoritarians have learned to
> play the “reform game,” absorbing massive amounts of external aid while avoiding
> genuine reform.
> <https://qz.com/africa/1299149/how-the-uns-sustainable-development-goals-undermine-democracy/>
> This often sets a country back for generations, and consequently provides
> an expedient avenue for donors and development organizations to continue to
> fill.
>
> This is not to deny the importance of development interventions, such as
> assisting African partners
> <https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/issue-brief/the-current-ebola-outbreak-and-the-u-s-role-an-explainer/>
> to stanch the spread of Ebola or building schools or vaccinating children.
> Stopgap measures have their value, and they often save lives that would
> otherwise be lost or devalued. Such interventions, though, must be properly
> identified as tactical measures, not a feature of long-term strategies.
>
> Simply put: Despite what the world’s autocrats and their curious
> bedfellows
> <https://qz.com/africa/1299149/how-the-uns-sustainable-development-goals-undermine-democracy/>
> in the development world would have you believe, a healthy democracy is
> essential for boosting a country’s development outcomes. The data shows
> that African citizens understand this fact. They have lived it. Donors and
> major development organizations would be wise to follow their lead.
>
> Importantly, development aid and pro-democracy aid can play complementary
> roles
> <https://carnegieendowment.org/2013/11/06/aiding-democracy-in-africa-critical-assessment-event-4233>.
> Yet donors, and the citizens they are actually seeking to empower, would
> receive a bigger return on their investments over the long term by focusing
> on building democracy.
>
> First and foremost, democracy has been shown to improve
> <https://www.cfr.org/article/democracy-matters-global-health> a nation’s
> overall health. This is because democratic governments are inherently more
> open, more accountable and transparent, as well as protective of media
> freedom. This enabling environment allows leaders to be more responsive and
> use feedback to improve the quality of basic services. Democratic nations
> are also more likely to increase their own spending
> <https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)30235-1/fulltext>
> on health care in the long term, which benefits all sides involved.
>
> Second, there is strong evidence
> <https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2014/05/democracy-boost-economic-growth/>
> that democracy leads to stronger economies. This democratic advantage is especially
> pronounced
> <https://issafrica.org/research/papers/the-future-of-democracy-in-africa>
> for African countries that have remained democratic for longer periods of
> time. More often than not, autocrats and other abusive leaders fail to
> implement the needed reforms that will sustain economic growth. Since they
> are not held accountable — and because the aid continues to flow,
> regardless
> <https://unu.edu/publications/articles/to-aid-or-not-to-aid-the-case-of-rwanda.html>
> — they really have no incentive to act in the public interest.
>
> Third, states that hold free and fair elections, and leaders who abide by
> basic democratic principles, are inherently less corrupt
> <https://www.v-dem.net/media/filer_public/9c/c0/9cc04b80-a0b9-4d51-8374-c9df8b9607e9/v-dem_working_paper_2017_43.pdf>.
> They are also better positioned
> <https://mg.co.za/article/2019-07-29-democracy-and-violence-in-africa-how-a-lack-of-democracy-fuels-violent-extremism>
> to prevent non-state violence, including acts of terrorism.
>
> The evidence is clear: Positive development outcomes are dependent on
> democratic foundations, including free and fair elections. Development
> organizations and donors alike should take this as an excellent excuse to add
> democracy promotion
> <https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/07/04/738477296/good-news-about-democracy-its-good-for-your-health>
> to their portfolios. Aid-givers should prioritize the democratic demands of
> African citizens — and allocate resources accordingly. Until that happens,
> authoritarians and ruthless dictators will continue to be feted
> <https://www.milkeninstitute.org/people/his-excellency-paul-kagame-global-conference-2019>
> at glitzy international conferences, even as they continue to repress their
> own people. Their domination will be maintained under the guise of
> “development,” and they will continue to dupe well-intentioned do-gooders
> everywhere.
>
> A rethink is long overdue. It is time to start addressing the root causes
> of global democratic backsliding, and to stop merely applying Band-Aids to
> its evident symptoms.
>
> *Read more*:
>
> Patrick Gathara: Democracy is in retreat in Africa — and not just in Sudan
> and Algeria
> <https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/06/06/democracy-is-retreat-africa-not-just-sudan-algeria/>
>
> The Post’s View: A chance for democracy in Sudan is being snatched away.
> The world must act.
> <https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/a-chance-for-democracy-in-sudan-is-being-snatched-away-the-world-must-act/2019/06/05/4929ecca-87b8-11e9-a870-b9c411dc4312_story.html>
>
> The Post’s View: Sudan’s revolution could end up like Tiananmen — or even
> more tragic
> <https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/sudans-revolution-could-end-up-like-tiananmen--or-even-more-tragic/2019/06/03/7f9ac7b4-8625-11e9-a491-25df61c78dc4_story.html>
>
> Melyssa Haffaf: Algerian women have waited 57 years for equality. Now it’s
> time for action.
> <https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/04/04/algerian-women-have-waited-years-equality-now-its-time-action/>
>
>
>
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