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https://theconversation.com/60-of-africans-dont-believe-democracy-is-working-in-their-interests-how-parliaments-can-fix-the-problem-262581>
"Across Africa, democracy is being tested – by rising authoritarianism and
military coups as well as a growing disconnect between citizens and the
institutions meant to represent them.
The latest flagship report from Afrobarometer, a pan African research network,
delivers a powerful warning.
Citizen Engagement, Citizen Power, released in
July 2025, reports that over 60% of Africans are dissatisfied with how
democracy works in their countries. Support for democracy remains high, but
belief in its effectiveness is fading, especially when citizens feel excluded
from meaningful participation in decisions that affect them.
Put simply: the crisis of participation results from people being absent from
the room when decisions that affect them are made. This article sets out
practical ways parliaments can bring citizens in.
I am a political scientist whose work in comparative politics focuses on
political institutions and democratic engagement in Africa. My broader research
builds on my PhD on institutional development and legislative public engagement
in Nigeria.
This research has shown that democratic fatigue has many roots, including
insecurity and unmet socio-economic needs. But the deeper issue is a crisis of
participation where decisions that affect people are made without consultation.
Too often, Africans feel that decisions are made for them, not with them. Power
remains concentrated in elite circles, while public engagement is reduced to
symbolic gestures.
Democracy, in this view, is something performed in capitals rather than lived
in communities.
If that is to change, parliaments must take the lead. As the institutions most
visibly linked to representation, they can reconnect citizens with the
democratic process. When parliaments get people to take part, they help restore
public confidence. When they fail to do so, the entire democratic project is
weakened.
Encouragingly, many African constitutions, including those of Kenya, South
Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, now call for public participation in making laws.
Parliaments are increasingly referring to citizen engagement in their strategic
plans, and standout models like South Africa’s Public Participation Model offer
practical frameworks.
South Africa’s efforts have contributed to a 27% increase in public
understanding of the parliament’s mandates. Evidence from civil society and
independent research corroborates this."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
