True African History

In Africa, almost all countries claim to be democratic. Democracy is held up as the ideal, as an untouchable god. Everyone, even people on the streets, believes that they have a voice through elections, and that their lives are pleasant and peaceful because they live in a democratic country with a constitution where the rule of law applies. In fact, this is such a deeply held belief that even when things go very wrong in a typical African country, the people still cling dearly to democratic concepts like "the rule of law", and general elections. For example, in Kenya during the demonstrations that started in June/July 2024, even as the government was committing crimes against the people (crimes like extra judicial killings) or even when government officially literally and explicitly showed that they only have utter contempt for the general population, the peace-loving people of Kenya would somehow continue to believe in their constitution, in the rule of law in Kenya and that in their next general elections, they will finally deal with the rogue politicians. It seems that all the people of Kenya can only process politics and political power through the lens of democracy.

In Africa, almost all politicians do not believe in democracy. They see democracy as a tool that they can use to achieve their goals. They also see democracy as a convenient and useful narrative that gives them legitimacy to the people they rule over. To them, democracy is a political formula that has been sold to the people and which the people believe in deeply to the extent that a typical African politician can get away with almost anything because the general population will always look to solve their political problems through democratic systems and processes - things like elections, referendums, judicial systems etc. For example, we can look at Kenya again during the June/July 2024 mass uprisings where the political class had no doubts whatsoever that the people of Kenya believe in their sovereignty through the Kenyan constitution and other democratic myths. So much so that the president of Kenya could lie direct and explicitly to the people of Kenya without any fear of repercussions. After all, his political manoeuvring had him in control of all three arms of Kenya's democratic government and there was no way at all for the people to overrule him in anything.

So there you have it. The people believe deeply in democracy but the political class treats democracy only as a tool to control the people. Yikes!

The reality on the ground is that a small minority consisting of the economic and political elite (in most African countries this is less than 0.5% of the population) holds most of the power and this power is held and wielded independently of any democratic processes which are usually employed after the fact to give the actions of the ruling elite legitimacy. To elaborate:

1. Power is concentrated in the hands of a few elites who make decisions that shape society. These elites come from the upper echelons of business, politics, and the military.
2. Major decisions are made by these elites without significant input or influence from the general population. The policies and laws reflect the interests of the elites rather than the broader public.
3. Elites control major institutions, such as corporations, the government, and the media, which allows them to perpetuate their power and influence.
4. The disparity between the ruling elites and the general populace often leads to social and economic inequalities. Elites use their power to maintain and enhance their status and wealth.
5. While multiple groups may compete for power, the competition is limited to elites. Ordinary citizens have little real influence, and democracy functions as a façade.
6. The elites can and do change slowly over time as new elites replace old ones but the structure of elite rule remains. This can happen through inheritance, intermarriage, education, or career progression within elite institutions.

This is the reality on the ground in literally any African country. Please go and check and confirm that I am correct. Next, let us debunk some myths of democracy.

The myth of the rule of law

The myth of the rule of law, suggests that the concept of the rule of law is often portrayed as a neutral, fair, and impartial system that governs society. However, this idealised view is misleading and conceals the reality that laws and legal systems are heavily influenced by the interests of the elite.

1. Neutrality

The rule of law is presented as a system where laws are applied equally to all individuals, regardless of their status or power. In practice, the creation, interpretation, and enforcement of laws are significantly influenced by those in power. Elites have the resources to shape laws to their advantage, hire influential lawyers, and lobby for favourable interpretations and enforcement.

2. Law as a tool for elite interests

Many laws and regulations are designed or manipulated to protect the interests of the elite. This includes economic policies that favour big businesses, tax laws that benefit the wealthy, and criminal justice policies that disproportionately affect the small man.

3. Access to legal resources

Elites can afford high-quality legal representation, which often leads to more favourable outcomes in legal disputes. In contrast, ordinary citizens, especially those with limited financial resources, may struggle to access competent legal help, leading to disparities in legal outcomes.

4. Selective enforcement

Enforcement of laws can be selective, often reflecting the interests of the powerful. For instance, white-collar crimes committed by elites may be less aggressively pursued compared to street-level crimes committed by less privileged individuals. This selective enforcement perpetuates the power dynamics favoured by elites.

5. Judicial influence

It is a myth that judges and courts operate independently of political and economic pressures. In reality, the appointment of judges, especially in higher courts, can be influenced by political and economic elites. Judges may also be swayed by their own backgrounds, biases, and the broader socio-political environment, leading to rulings that reflect elite interests.

6. Legitimising existing power structures

The concept of the rule of law is used to legitimise and sustain existing power structures. By presenting the legal system as fair and just, it masks the underlying inequalities and the influence of elites, making it more challenging to question or reform the system.

The myth of neutral institutions

The myth of neutral institutions, suggests that institutions such as governments, corporations, educational systems, and media are often portrayed as impartial and serving the interests of the entire society. However, in practice these institutions are neither neutral nor impartial; rather, they are influenced and controlled by elites to maintain their power and privilege.

1. Impartiality vs. influence

We may think or believe that democratic institutions are objective, fair, and operate independently of elite influence. However, the reality is that democratic institutions are often shaped by the interests and values of those in power. Elites exert significant control over these institutions, guiding their policies and decisions to serve their own interests.

2. Government and policy making

The people mistakenly believe that government institutions work for the public good and that they create policies that benefit all citizens. Sadly, and realistically speaking, policy-making is heavily influenced by lobbying, campaign contributions, and other forms of elite pressure. This results in policies that usually benefit the wealthy and powerful at the expense of the broader populace.

3. Media and information

Media ownership and control are concentrated among a few powerful elites. This concentration ensures biased reporting, censorship of dissenting views, and promotion of elite-friendly narratives. The media is used to manipulate public opinion and maintain the status quo.

4. Legitimising existing power structures

Supposedly neutral democratic institutions legitimise and perpetuate existing power structures by presenting themselves as neutral and serving the common good, while actually reinforcing the dominance of elites.

The myth of democratic elections

The myth of democratic elections, suggests that while elections are portrayed as the primary mechanism through which the public exercises control over government and holds leaders accountable, in reality, elections only serve to maintain the power of elites.

1. Campaign financing

By design, political campaigns require substantial financial resources, which gives an advantage to candidates who can secure funding from wealthy donors, corporations, and special interest groups. This financial dependency often means that elected officials are beholden to their funders rather than the general electorate. Additionally, this means that elections are never a level playing field and only a select few can actually run for office.

2. Illusion of Choice

The range of choices presented to voters is often limited to candidates who are pre-approved or supported by elite groups. Major political parties and their candidates typically reflect the interests of the economic and political elites. Therefore, elections DO NOT provide citizens with genuine choices nor the ability to influence government policies.

3. Voter manipulation

Elites can and do manipulate voters through bribes, targeted messaging, propaganda, and misinformation and this manipulation usually sways elections in favour of elite-preferred candidates. That voters make informed choices based on rational evaluation of candidates and policies is a myth.

4. Continuation of existing policies

We'd like to think that elections lead to significant changes in policies that reflect the will of the people. In reality, despite changes in leadership, many core policies remain consistent due to the influence of entrenched elite interests. Key economic, foreign, and domestic policies often show remarkable continuity regardless of who is in power.

In many African countries, democracy is upheld as the ultimate ideal, providing citizens with a sense of voice and justice through elections and the rule of law. However, this belief persists even when governments commit grave injustices, revealing a stark contrast between the people and the political elite. The populace deeply believes in democratic systems, hoping for change through constitutional processes, while politicians use democracy as a tool for their own ends, exploiting this belief to maintain control. The reality is that a small elite holds most of the power, making decisions without significant input from the general populace and shaping policies to reflect their interests. This elite control extends to major institutions, legal systems, and elections, perpetuating social and economic inequalities and ensuring their dominance. The ideals of democracy, the rule of law, and neutral institutions function as myths that mask these underlying power dynamics, leaving ordinary citizens with little real influence and reinforcing the dominance of a small, powerful minority.