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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The future of constitutionalism in Africa
Author:Mulei, Christopher
Year:1997
Periodical:Annual conference - African Society of International and Comparative Law
Volume:9
Pages:322-330
Language:English
Geographic term:Africa
Subject:democracy
Abstract:There is a perennial debate as to whether democracy existed in precolonial African societies and also whether democracy, and of necessity human rights, have universal application or whether these are affected by various cultural factors. The colonial regime which imposed itself in most of Africa was clearly not out to promote human rights and democracy and while most of the newly independent States in Africa did have viable constitutions, these were soon derailed through military coups, the introduction of one-party political systems, half-baked ideological experiments, and the installation of autocratic regimes. Not only the new rulers were tempted to abuse power, but the opposition, too, often had little respect for constitutionalism. Although since late 1992 there are signs of change, as more and more African countries are espousing a multiparty political system, national democratic constitutionalism is still on trial in most countries of Africa. Ref.
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