Political Parties and Democracy in Africa

Democracy in Africa is in decline. Indeed, according to reports by leading democracy watchdogs such as Freedom House and V-Dem, political freedom in Africa has experienced widespread decline over the past decade, resulting in a significant weakening of democratic institutions across the continent. And many observers have pointed to the continent’s political parties as one of the chief culprits in this regard, highlighting the ways in which weak, clientelist parties, particularly in opposition, permit and even encourage this destruction of democratic institutions and practices.
At the same time, however, some political parties do act to stem this worrying tide – at least in some places. Far from being negative for democracy as is often claimed, therefore, there is evidence that at least some parties in Africa are acting to promote democracy in the region.