| Abstrakt: |
The article discusses the transition of authoritarian rule to democracy system of government in Africa. It examines the background of transition theory, the different problems encountered by African states, especially South Africa, in the transitional phase. Also, some tentative guidelines for solving or at least managing these constraints are also proposed. One of the weightiest problems facing multiparty democracy in Africa is the existence of serious ethnic/racial cleavages. In South Africa this is even more complicated as the nature of conflict is racially and ideologically based, with strong ethnic and class undertones due to the disproportionate distribution of wealth. The author opposes the majoritarian principle of "the winner takes all" and suggests that a government should be representative of all political parties and not ethnic groups. Also, there is a discussion on the two economic crises, namely inequality and stagnation or regression in Africa. Political leaders must fulfill "duties of encouragement" and "duties of warning" in the transition to democracy. |
