20th-Century Democratic Movements in Africa: Leaders, Reforms, and Outcomes Essay

Internal Factors Behind the Rise of Democratic Movements in Africa

The 20th century was pivotal for African countries due to the new wave of democratic movements. One internal factor that contributed to such circumstances is the authoritarian regime’s failure to meet the public’s social and economic needs. With the prevailing instability in nations, governments could not satisfy the expectations in terms of pay, healthcare, education, and others, which led to revolts (Reid, 2019, p. 322).

External Influences and Their Contribution to Democratic Change

Moreover, one external factor is environmental and climatic exacerbation. Significant drought led to the worsening of the economic and social conditions in the countries, pressing for reforms (Reid, 2019, p. 324). The democratic wave was inspired by groups such as Islamists from Mali, Senegal, and Niger (Reid, 2019, p. 333). Thus, several factors contributed to changes happening in Africa.

An African Leader Voted Out of Power During the Democratic Wave

Among the leaders who were voted out of power was Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia. He lost the election to another candidate who promised to end corruption (Reid, 2019, p. 364). Meanwhile, another leader, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, was able to outwit his opponents but is no longer in power. He came to power during the guerrilla war, promising liberation from corruption. Yet, he continued consolidating his power after being elected (Reid, 2019, p. 365).

An African Leader Who Outwitted Political Reform Movements

Finally, the leader Nelson Mandela of South Africa, who came to power on the crest of the new wave, was the one who remained faithful to the credentials and vision, promising to build a democratic and inclusive South Africa (Reid, 2019, p. 368). Therefore, many politicians had to change their perspectives with changes occurring in Africa.

The Lasting Impact of the Democratic Movements in Africa

The new wave of democratic movements in Africa left countries in a mixed state. On the one hand, some countries, such as South Africa and Ghana, have significantly improved human rights and democratic reforms (Reid, 2019, p. 365). On the other hand, other countries, such as Zimbabwe and Uganda, have failed to incorporate democratic practices, with corruption and nepotism continuing to thrive (Reid, 2019, p. 365). Thus, while the wave of democratic movements benefited some countries and led to development, others did not undergo significant changes.

Reference

Reid, R. J. (2019). A history of modern Africa: 1800 to the present. Wiley-Blackwell.