Done With Democracy? How Military Coups Have Changed Africa’s Political Landscape
GIGA Forum
Done With Democracy? How Military Coups Have Changed Africa’s Political Landscape
Date
06/12/2023
Start
05:00 p.m. (CET)
End
06:30 p.m. (CET)
GIGA Forum Military Coups: Photo of the panel
GIGA Forum Military Coups: Photo of the panel
Since 2021, a wave of military coups d’état have upended Africa’s political landscape. The Sahel countries, once a focal point of European engagement in Africa, have come under the control of military juntas aligned with Russia. Amidst an escalating security crisis, there is growing repression and resignation – but also significant public support for strongman dictators. African democracy movements, which not long ago celebrated remarkable successes, have come under pressure.
In this GIGA Forum, our experts discuss the implications for democracy in Africa and for Europe’s foreign policy towards the region.
Speakers:Dr. Martin Acheampong is a Research Fellow at the GIGA Institute for African Affairs.
Hager Ali is a Doctoral Researcher at the GIGA Institute for Middle East Studies.
Many autocracies emerge through military coups, but studies of hybrid regimes and electoral autocracies largely disregard the role of militaries in their trajectory. Sebastian Elischer shows how armies consolidate their power when they take control, and suggests a further research agenda.
Democratic achievements in Africa are at risk. Military coups and ongoing resource-plundering by external parties have raised fears of further backsliding to authoritarian rule. Dr. Joseph Asunka, CEO of the survey research network Afrobarometer, will describe how Africans perceive the current state of affairs.
Military coups in Africa are on the rise again. The trend is being driven by acute political crises, traditionally politicized militaries and self-reinforcing regional dynamics. German and European policy should address the root causes, and the West should avoid short-sighted geopolitics and revise its Africa policy.
Die Versäumnisse der deutschen Afrikapolitik sind groß: Berlin hat sich zu sehr auf Paris verlassen – und im Kampf gegen ungesteuerte Migration und den Vormarsch von Dschihadisten im Sahel auf zweifelhafte Partner gesetzt. Statt schneller Stabilisierung braucht es jetzt eine Langzeitstrategie. Ein Gastbeitrag.
Das Militär hat sich in Niger und Gabun an die Macht geputscht – mit einschneidenden Folgen für diese Länder. Doch die Machtverschiebungen in der internationalen Politik gehen weit darüber hinaus.
Recent military coups underscore that democratisation is under pressure in Africa. While long-term trends paint a positive picture, current threats to democratisation beyond the coups include socio-economic challenges, violent conflict, power-hungry elites, and external support for autocrats.
Many autocracies emerge through military coups, but studies of hybrid regimes and electoral autocracies largely disregard the role of militaries in their trajectory. Sebastian Elischer shows how armies consolidate their power when they take control, and suggests a further research agenda.
Democratic achievements in Africa are at risk. Military coups and ongoing resource-plundering by external parties have raised fears of further backsliding to authoritarian rule. Dr. Joseph Asunka, CEO of the survey research network Afrobarometer, will describe how Africans perceive the current state of affairs.
Military coups in Africa are on the rise again. The trend is being driven by acute political crises, traditionally politicized militaries and self-reinforcing regional dynamics. German and European policy should address the root causes, and the West should avoid short-sighted geopolitics and revise its Africa policy.
Die Versäumnisse der deutschen Afrikapolitik sind groß: Berlin hat sich zu sehr auf Paris verlassen – und im Kampf gegen ungesteuerte Migration und den Vormarsch von Dschihadisten im Sahel auf zweifelhafte Partner gesetzt. Statt schneller Stabilisierung braucht es jetzt eine Langzeitstrategie. Ein Gastbeitrag.
Das Militär hat sich in Niger und Gabun an die Macht geputscht – mit einschneidenden Folgen für diese Länder. Doch die Machtverschiebungen in der internationalen Politik gehen weit darüber hinaus.
Recent military coups underscore that democratisation is under pressure in Africa. While long-term trends paint a positive picture, current threats to democratisation beyond the coups include socio-economic challenges, violent conflict, power-hungry elites, and external support for autocrats.
Many autocracies emerge through military coups, but studies of hybrid regimes and electoral autocracies largely disregard the role of militaries in their trajectory. Sebastian Elischer shows how armies consolidate their power when they take control, and suggests a further research agenda.
Democratic achievements in Africa are at risk. Military coups and ongoing resource-plundering by external parties have raised fears of further backsliding to authoritarian rule. Dr. Joseph Asunka, CEO of the survey research network Afrobarometer, will describe how Africans perceive the current state of affairs.
