Democratic backsliding in Africa?

Focusing on political developments in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda, the authors emphasize two distinct strategies that governments frequently use to reinforce their hold on power — the legal system and the international system.

Accross the continent, governments employ the law to limit the scope of action among citizens and civil society activists struggling to expand democratic liberties, including the use of constitutional provisions and the courts.

Governments also use their role in international relations to neutralize pressure from external actors, including sovereigntist claims against foreign intervention and selective implementation of donor-promoted policies.

Panel
Lise Rakner, professor at Department of Government, UiB, and affiliated researcher at CMI

Matthew Gichohi, researcher at Chr. Michelsen Institute

Siri Gloppen, professor, Department of Government and Vice-Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, UiB, and Co-Director for LawTransform (CMI-UiB Centre on Law & Social Transformation).

Sabiti Makara, Professor at Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Makerere University