Done With Democracy? How Military Coups Have Changed Africa’s Political Landscape

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.

Im Zentrum dieses Beitrags stehen die Fragen nach der politischen Kontrolle des Militärs.

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. 

Video now online!

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.

Im Zentrum dieses Beitrags stehen die Fragen nach der politischen Kontrolle des Militärs.

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. 

Video now online!