FRATELLI TUTTI AND IMPLICATIONS ON DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA

Authors

  • Elias O. Opongo Hekima University College, Nairobi

Keywords:

Democracy, Economic Marginalization, Fratelli Tutti, Marginalization, Politics

Abstract

The paradoxical reality of the disparities between economic growth in Africa and increased poverty in the continent is a clear reflection of the dysfunctionality of the inherited democratic and economic systems. The new encyclical of Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti (Brothers All) that came out in October 2020, draws attention to social consciousness on the common responsibility toward building solidarity, social friendship, global citizenship and fraternal economy that respects human dignity and advances integral human development. Like in many parts of the world, democracy in Africa is in a crisis, and politics has largely been sectarian. There are a number of African countries that have subjected democracy to mockery through constitutional coups that create life presidencies or political manipulation of electoral results to remain in power. The persistent disappointment with democratic systems that economically marginalize the majority of the population, making the rich richer and pressing down the poor to poverty, has raised questions on the extent of efficiency levels of democracy. There have been mass demonstrations expressing this discontentment with democracy whether against bad governance, corruption, disenfranchisement of citizen rights, police brutality or economic marginalization of the majority of the population. Pope Francis’ Fratelli Tutti makes a strong appeal on the need to form “social friendship” advanced by fraternal economy that goes beyond individualistic attitudes sustained by parenthesized solidarity. The advancement of democracy in Africa, and the rest of the world, will have to be based on the principles of common good and respect for human dignity, through actualization of democratic systems that respect fair distribution of national resources, care of the poor and marginalization, and creation of employment opportunities, especially for the youth.

Author Biography

Elias O. Opongo, Hekima University College, Nairobi

Elias O. Opongo is the director of the Centre for Research, Training and Publication at Hekima University College. His areas of research interest include transitional justice, social ethics, post-conflict reconstruction, community peacebuilding, religious extremism, extractive industries and conflict. His recent publications include “The Red Terror of the Derge Regime: Memorialization of Mass Killings in Ethiopia,” in Aljina Karamehic-Muratovic and Laura Kromjak, ed., Remembrance and Forgiveness: Global and Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Genocide and Mass Violence, New York: Routledge, 2021; Ethics of War and Peacebuilding: The Unfinished Business, Nairobi: Hekima University College, 2020; “Refugee Undesirability and Economic Potentials: Questioning Encampment Policy in Forced Migration,” in Schmidt J., Kimathi L., Owiso M., ed., Refugees and Forced Migration in the Horn and Eastern Africa. Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development, Cham: Springer, 2019.

References

“Deadly Clashes Between Protesters and Police Erupt in Ivory Coast Following President Ouattara’s Decision to Run For Third Term,” https://www.okayafrica.com/alassane-ouattara-third-term-protests-ivory-coast/

“Guinea Electoral Body Says Alpha Conde Won Third Term in Office,” Aljazeera, (2020), https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/24/guinea-election-president-conde-wins-third-term-in-office

“Ivory Coast election: Opposition Demands ‘Civil Transition,’” BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54768743

“Mali’s Keita Resigns as President after Military Coup,” Aljazeera, 2020, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/8/19/malis-keita-resigns-as-president-after-military-coup

“The Democracy Index 2019,” The Economist, https://www.eiu.com/ topic/democracy-index

“Thousands Rally in Ivory Coast to Protest President Ouattara’s Bid for Third Term,” France24, https://www.france24.com/en/20201011-thousands-rally-in-ivory-coast-to-protest-president-ouattara-s-bid-for-third-term; Nobantu Shabangu,

“Uganda Police Clash with Pop Star Bobi Wine’s Supporters,” Aljazeera (2019), https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/4/30/uganda-police-clash-with-pop-star-bobi-wines-supporters

Ating Nelly, 2020, “Nigeria’s Next-Generation Protest Movement,” https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/10/28/nigerias-youth-protest-movement-end-sars/

Besliu Raluca, “Togo Rallies for Change After 50 Years of Rule by One Family,” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/world/africa/togo-protests-faure-gnassingbe.html

Charles Edel, “Democracy Is Fighting for Its Life,” Foreign Policy, September 2019.https:// foreignpolicy.com/2019/09/10/democracy-is-fighting-for-its-life/.

Collier, The Future of Capitalism.

Dawit Endashaw, “Gunmen Kill 32, Burn Houses in Attack in Ethiopia: Administrator,” https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN27I20D

Elias O. Opongo, Transitional Justice in Post-Conflict Societies in Africa, Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa, 2016.

Elias Omondi Opongo, “Insecurity & Violence and Impact on Human Security,” in Michelle Becka, Felix Wilfred, and Mile Babic, ed., Human Security, London: SCM, Concilium Series, 2018.

Fisayo-Bambi Jerry, 2020, “Guinea: Protests as Conde Files in 3rd Term Candidacy,” (2020), https://www.africanews.com/2020/09/04/guinea-protests-as-conde-files-in-3rd-term-candidacy-//

Freedom House, “Freedom in the World 2018: Democracy in Crisis,” https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/democracy-crisis
Human Rights Watch, 2020,

“Ethiopia: Justice Needed for Deadly October Violence” https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/01/ethiopia-justice-needed-deadly-october-violence

Hussein J.W., “Examining the Nature of Defensively Situated Politics of Difference, Identity and Essentialism in Ethiopia: A Critical Engagement,” International Area Studies Review 19, 4 (2016) 340-354.

Hussein J.W., Kenee FB, Wentzell R., “Politics of Protective Territoriality and Governance Challenges in the Geography of Networked Human Connectivity: The Jarso-Girhi Case in Eastern Ethiopia,” Journal of Asian and African Studies 52, 2 (2017) 232-250.

John Kelly, “The 1% Owns Almost As Much Wealth As The Middle Class: Will The Rich Keep Getting Richer?” Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/ 2019/11/12/the-1-owns-almost-as-much-wealth-as-the-middle-class-will-the-rich-keep-getting-richer/?sh=2564a0794323.

Larry Diamond, Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, and American Complacency, New York: PENGUIN Books, 2020, 40.

Laski, Harold J. Democracy in crisis. London: Routledge, 2016; Grayling, A. C. Democracy and Its Crisis. London: Oneworld Publications, 20.

Nelly, “Nigeria’s Next-Generation Protest Movement.”

Nnanta N. Elekwa, and Okechukwu I. Eme. “Post-Election Violence in Africa: A Comparative Case of Kenya and Zimbabwe,” The Indian Journal of Political Science 72, 3 (2011) 833–844.

OXFAM, 2020. World’s billionaires have more wealth than 4.6 billion people.” https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/worlds-billionaires-have-more-wealth-46-billion-people.

Paul Collier, The Future of Capitalism: Facing the New Anxieties, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2018, 53.

Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, 3, 21, 24, 27, 28, 30, 32, 41, 62, 109, 146, 176, 183, 196, 226.

Salem Solomon, “Young Ugandans Protest Entrenched Power,” (2018) https://www.voanews.com/africa/young-ugandans-protest-entrenched-power

Samuel Oyekanmi, “Nigeria’s Unemployment Rate Jumps to 27.1% as at 2020 Q2,” https://nairametrics.com/2020/08/14/breaking-nigeria-unemployment-rate-jumps-to-27-1/

Samuel P. Huntingon, “Democracy’s Third Wave,” Journal of Democracy, 2, 2 (2005) 34.

Shabangu, “Deadly Clashes Between Protesters and Police Erupt in Ivory Coast.”

World Bank, “The World Bank In Africa,” https://www.worldbank.org/ en/region/afr/overview World Bank, “The World Bank In Africa.”

Y. Selim, T. Murithi, “Transitional Justice and Development: Partners for Sustainable Peace in Africa?” Journal of Peacebuilding & Development 6, 2 (2011) 58-72.

Downloads

Published

2020-12-01

How to Cite

Opongo, E. O. . (2020). FRATELLI TUTTI AND IMPLICATIONS ON DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA. Asian Horizons, 14(4), 887–900. Retrieved from https://dvkjournals.in/index.php/ah/article/view/3624