Measuring democracy and ‘good governance’ in Africa: A critique of assumptions and methods

Since the end of the Cold War the world has witnessed significant political and economic developments with far-reaching consequences for global order. For instance, the democratisation processes and outcomes in some countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America and Africa have benefited from the triumph of globalisation. Also, the new neoliberal global order under the influence of the United States has created a favourable environment for the spread of western liberal democracy to other parts of the world. Generally, the new global setting has provided the opportunity for the consolidation of neoliberalism. The efforts to export neoliberal values beyond the frontiers of western societies have recorded some successes in certain respects. Today, there is increasing global consensus on the legitimacy of such western values as individualism, liberty, human rights, equality before the law, free markets, the rule of law and, most significantly, liberal democracy. As can be expected, one of the consequences has been the emergence of the west as the undisputed vanguard of the global ‘democracy crusade’. However, in effect, this is no more than the spread of liberal democracy and the triumph of the neoliberal model.