Economy, Literacy and Ethnic Structures in Africa: Correlations with Democracy Explored

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Periodical article

Title:	Economy, Literacy and Ethnic Structures in Africa: Correlations with Democracy Explored
Author:	Breytenbach, Willie J.
Year:	1998
Periodical:	Africa Insight
Volume:	28
Issue:	3-4
Pages:	118-124
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Africa
Subjects:	democracy Development and Technology Economics and Trade Education and Oral Traditions Politics and Government Ethnic and Race Relations
Abstract:	By the end of 1989, Africa had only 9 multiparty systems. By October 1997, there were 41 functioning multiparty States on the continent, and 12 nondemocratic States. This article compares the 9 older multiparty systems with the remaining 12 nondemocratic States, trying to establish whether the first set of States was significantly different from the second set of States in terms of their economic and educational levels, as well as ethnic structures. In particular, the article examines the correlation between the consolidation of an electoral democracy on the one hand, and per capita income, ethnic homogeneity and adult literacy on the other. The conclusion is that these correlations are quite clear. The strongest is that higher per capita income tends to be positively associated with democracy. The second strongest correlation is the one between ethnic heterogeneity and nondemocratic structures, while the weakest correlations exist for literacy rates. Notes, ref.