Conceptualising democracy in an African context

Abstract

Colonialism brought Africa a process of state formation upon which post-independence rulers have further built. Such modern government needs modern types of legitimisation; one cannot have it both ways. In trying to explain what this means we will take Lincoln's definition as a starting point. Government of the people means not only self-determination but representation, government for the people may be seen as accountability while government by the people signifies participation. The three concepts are interrelated, as we shall see, and are all necessary aspects of the use of power. Thus, democracy means that power is representative, controllable and should also be participatory.