Challenges Confronting The Democratization Of Africa

NameProfessorCourseDateChallenges Confronting the Democratization of AfricaIntroductionApart from underdevelopment, weak democratization is among the greatest challenges facing Africa. Since the 1960s, Africa has tried to implement democratic models of leadership (Thomson 10). Even though African society has shown significant improvement toward democratization, this journey is facing immense problems, and many states have high rates of corruption and autocracy (Crawford and Lynch 12). There is a need to explore the issues and challenges confronting African democracies; nevertheless, it is essential first to understand the concept of democracy and how it is achieved. Democracy describes a situation whereby eligible citizens of a country have a say in matters that affect them. A democratic government allows citizens to be heard through elected representatives. Democracy is multifaceted and involves a commitment to rules of law, civil societies, and political transparency through free and fair elections (Lonsdale 131). To ensure that African countries move forward, democracies will have to make sure that they address the problems that make democratization a difficult task. However, reports have indicated that even if Africa achieves democracy, it would be unstable for the first two decades due absence of democratic values. Elite politics, electoral irregularities, ethnic division, and poverty are