Africa faces the challenge of ‘choiceless democracy’

Significance

Behind both phenomena lies popular frustration with the perceived inability of democracy to deliver peace and development, and an absence of manifest differences in socio-economic fortunes despite changes in governments, in what has become known as ‘choiceless democracy’.

Impacts

• Political instability will undermine national and foreign direct investment, and therefore economic recovery.
• Instability and economic difficulties may fuel irregular migration to Europe and the Middle East.
• Weak state capacity creates possibilities for the emergence of insurgencies, terrorist groups and organised crime.