Dear Mr. Jawara:
I agree with most of your arguments regarding democracy and the need to
domesticate it while at the same time providing individuals/groups with
basic economic rights. I have made similar arguments myself. Thus, We
do not seem to disagree on any important issues.
Your question is an important one, however. African intellectuals,
understandably, are divided in their perspectives on democracy. This in
turn, has influenced in a significant way the debate over what kind(s)
or form(s) of democracy are most suited to post-colonial societies of
Africa.
Three schools of thought are readily discernible: (a)THE
UNIVERSALISTS(Jibrin Ibrahim and Peter Anyang' Nyongo)argue and regard
multipartyism as the pillar of democracy, based on the Western model of
individual political rights and liberties; (b) POPULAR DEMOCRATIC
PERSPECTIVE(Issa Shivji and Mahmood Mamdani) who object to the coupling
of democracy with multipartyism. Shivji sees multipartyism as
supportive of a capitalist class and capitalism. Thus, the rights under
liberal capitalism reinforce a class based system of rule, which is
intended to reproduce capitalist accumulation and class differentiation.
Thus, paying little attention to the economic/ social/group rights, you
alluded to in your posting; and then the (c)NATIVISTIC
PERSPECTIVE(Claude Ake(RIP) and Maxwell Owusu). Nativists argue that
rural socities and institutions like the "Bantaba," in Gambia, remain
the blueprint upon which to build participatory forms of democracy at
the nation-state level. Yet a fringe but growing school is what D.A.
Masolo calls the "politics of realism." It recognizes the inevitability
of capitalism as the framework of economic development under western
hegemony.
In my view, these schools serve an important analytical purpose as they
overlap and converge on many key assumptions. This is however, not to
over look fundamental differences between and amongst them. In my view,
however, these conceptual tools/schools have become rigid and have been
mistaken for "reality." It is the coupling of a collectivist social
vision and a politics of realism that appeals to me the most and appears
to be the growing sensibility in African intellectual discourse.
And because democracy is a process, multipartyism in Africa should, in
time evolve to include not only the protection of individual, but
social/collective/economic rights as well. These ideas are not alien to
traditional African political systems. In fact, elements of these
already exist in our societies. I have argued in support of collapsing
these conceptual walls as all are conceivable in a truly evolving
democracy. The insistence on multipartyism, free and fair elections is a
minimum goal toward a democracy that overtime should lead to the claims
made by the "popular democrats" and "nativists." To some, this may be
seen as too optimistic. It is, but my optimism is tempered, in that I
believe, democratic rights will have to be struggled and fought for.
Rights are not often given on a silver platter.
Cheers!
Abdoulaye Saine
salomon jawara wrote:
>
> Dear Dr. Saine,
>
> According to my observation, there has being an overwhelming criticism of Yaya Jammeh
> particularly on the Gambia L that i still have difficulty understanding, knowing that there´s
> no genuine democracy anywhere in this world. Most of the criticism based on the
> deficiency of democracy i think is dispensable. I want to share with you a question and
> would be obliged in acquiring an answer from you.
> Is the Western style democracy really suitable for Africa?
>
> We need to understand that democracy cannot be packaged and exported like every other
> commodity. The rule of law and civil / human / citizenship rights which while being
> meaningful in the context of the history of Europe, are essentially meaningless when applied
> in rural Africa where the mojority of people live.
>
> I think Africa´s situation of social and economic under development has to be more than to
> democracy than a multi party system and periodic elections. Western style
> democracy could only have full meaning for ordinary Africans if they simultaniously led to
> the creation of conditions for the improvment of their livelihood. Looking back wards to
> Jawara´s thirty years of democratic, this hasn´t gained any effects.
>
> A disproposionate amount of resources and lives have been wasted for decades in the
> fight for Western style democracy in Africa. The struggle and rule by democracy like wise
> authoritarian have both produced resurgence in the ethnic and religious identities.
> Almost all African social scientistss´ notion of democracy are heavily influenced by those
> developed out of the African historical and cultural perspective, but in the West.
>
> In creating an African democracy, it should be a product of local entities based on their
> history. Our civil society in Africa is more complex than we thought, comprising of
> groups calling for a western style democracy, antidemocratic forces, and different ethnic
> groups. But with the help of our social scientists, an effective African democracy can be
> moulded without the risk for misinterpretation, which can sometimes course devastating
> consequences.
>
> The future for Africa lies in education, empowerment and employment of our enormous
> physical and human resources to generate poverty - reducing economic growth. This can
> only be acheived through efficient socio - economic policies, and not by the stuggle for power,
> intolerance and distrust, which is bringing Africa to ruin.
>
> The Jammeh regime undoubtedly has some defects, but there is no truely genuine democracy
> on the face of this earth yet. I think Africa has alot to learn from Asia, and our social scientists
> including interlectuals still has alot to do. The course of African importation of western ideas,
> ways of doing things and cultures ( European civilising mision to Africa), has so much impact
> opon us, that we tend to loosen up in creating and establishing our own. And this exportation
> is continuing through different refinements, to this day.
> Let us Africans exercise awareness, love and tolerance for each other. This includes every one,
> from the leaders to the farmers.
>
> I personally have no animosity against Mr. Jammeh, but i think one should be tolerant towards
> him and try help him rectify some of his mistakes, instead of all the negativity against him.
> You cannot rectify a wrong with a wrong.
>
> Thanks for sharing !
> Saul S.Jawara.
>
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