Paper short abstract:

Short Abstract This work is an attempt to reconsider the theoretical models guiding African democracy with a view to constructing an out-of-Africa democratic principle that can stand the test of contemporary democratic governance and help solve the socio-political problems besetting the continent.

Paper long abstract:

Long Abstract

Over the years, scholars have made claims for the adoption of African democratic values in order to solve the continent's inherent problems. However, such claims have been jettisoned with much apathy by most African politicians, political scholars and contemporary African states on the grounds that African thoughts have been largely patterned after Western-style theoretical models and practices of democracy. While such ridiculous thinking may be well observed, this paper queries whether the crisis of African democracy can be attributed to African political mores or not. It harps on the missing link in contemporary scholarly discourse which has been identified as the conceptual failure of exploring what African democratic theory entails. The paper argues the near absence of a definite democratic theory in African political scholarship in relation to underlying principles, canons and criteria of democracy in an African setting while pointing out inherent conceptual flaws in the popular notion of democracy as a form of government. The "out-of-Africa" theory examines democracy in Africa as a socio-political principle rather than a form of government. As a consequence, our democratic values and practices must be out of Africa even though we imbibe certain democratic ideals from other cultural traditions. In turn, Africa would be better equipped to provide a resounding democratic theory that can stand the test of times. It postulates that such a theoretical conception will help in solving the contemporary socio-political problems facing African democracy.

Keywords: Out-of-Africa, Africa, African, democracy, theory.