A large problem beginning to surface is a phenomenon that has earned the name "Imperial Presidency." All throughout Africa countries are developing this style of democracy that directly opposes a real democratic nation. Many of the founding fathers in Africa believed that the only way a country could survive was if it was led by powerful leaders. This gave to much power in the hands of the president. Right now many African countries allow the president power over the police, internal security, the economy, and state corporations. A major problem lies in the way the countries control their budgets. They go through the president instead of through the parliament therefore there are no "checks and balances." Some solutions that scholars give to resolve the problem are a revamp of the constitution and making the parties more democratic in nature. Professor of law Kwasi Prempeh at Seton Hall Law School says, "You are not going to have an undemocratic party producing democratic politicians. If the party is not democratic, does not hold primaries or allow anyone to contest for president, then that is the beginning of autocracy."
This unfortunate situation is another example of how easily democracy can become a corrupt form of government. These countries have constitutions, presidents, elections and in some cases supreme courts but they are by no means a democracy. They still have every bit of power in the presidents hands. Even though they might have the blue print of democracy they are not constructing democracy. I agree with Professor Prempeh when he says that there needs to be a rewrite to their constitution. They are trying to have freedom under a style of government that resembles an aristocracy more than a democracy. It will most definitely benefit them to rid the politicians that are corrupt and reinstitute political leaders that are appointed by the people.
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/African-Democrats-Look-for-Ways-to-Curb-Imperial-Presidency-147973255.html
No comments:
Post a Comment