Democracy is Not Simply Elections

[Cowke]

Democracy is Not Simply Elections

By Abdullahi Jama

June 28, 2010

 

Many people tend to believe that democracy is all about elections. In reality that is not the case. Elections are being conducted in many parts of the world where democracy actually becomes a delusion.

 

Let us say, democracy in its intrinsic feature matches the definition given by late American leader Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). In his words: “Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people”. Beside elections, a democratic country needs foundations of democracy such as strong civil society, independent judiciary and checks and balances and mature populace. There must be severe consequences by rigging elections. Just because elections are held, it doesn’t mean democracy is being implemented. Worse, in the absence of viable democratic foundations, elections often become a dangerous exercise and fuel political violence. In such a case, winning elections is regarded as a matter of death and life since the “winner takes all” and his/her power is unrestrained.

 

Elections in the Third World foster bad governance. Why? Because, they are held not out of democratic conviction but as a means to siphon off foreign aid.

 

In Somaliland, President Rayale was asked why your government failed to build and/or repair roads during your tenure. He answered; “there is no government that can afford to build roads or repair without foreign aid… we need recognition to access those funds”. And, why bad governance in the Third World? The difference between good governance and bad governance is wealth. In good governance, public funds are used for the service of the people. In bad governance, however, those funds are used for personal enrichment or political patronage.

 

Human Rights Watch in its report 2008, asserts that elections held in the third world did nothing to improve human rights conditions of the people.(See. 2008 Report: Democracy Charade Undermines Rights). In Somalia corruption peaked the highest in 1969, yet we had one of the best performed democracies in Africa. My aim is not to say democracy is worse than dictatorship, but to warn against expectation that elections are panacea for poor country’s problems.

 

`Poverty trap` attracts election violence and bad governance; it might even exacerbate it. Particularly in countries known as low income, dependent on the export of primary commodity and weak democratic institutions.

 

Researchers at Oxford University found that democracy actually makes worse off in low income countries where people live in margins of poverty below $7 per day.

 

Abdullahi Jama

E-Mail: Benadam43@hotmail.com

[Prometheus]

Stuff and nonsense.

[FIDHIN]

in somaliland it will change, because the oppisition is winning, something that doesnt happen in majority of africa, including our neighbour ethiopia.,1 man 1 vote is better that clan election which happens in -piratland

[Jacaylbaro]

Let us say, democracy in its intrinsic feature matches the definition given by late American leader Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). In his words: “Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people”.

Indeed ,,,, and Somaliland is the best example here ...