NASARA JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY

Democracy as a political system has over the years enjoyed a wide and progressive acceptance as an effective form of political structure which provides enabling environment for nourishing of the basics of human flourishing. It has found manifestation in different forms and designs in various cultures, without undermining the basic operational principles that are generally regarded as distinctive elements of a democratic order. The implication, therefore, is that almost all societies of the world have some forms of democratic credentials. The consensus principle of decision making through deliberative and participatory engagements remain a remarkable feature of democratic practice in traditional African society. This principle of reaching decision and forming the public will was the traditional method of considering all shades of opinions in the process of building consensus that will guarantee a rancour-free and public-spirited decision in the non-party structure of the traditional African society. With the adoption of western liberal democratic practice, the traditional African method of decision making through consensus principle is now threatened, and with the sustained influence of neoliberal ideologies and majoritarianism, the principle of liberal democratic practice in Africa is facing a huge challenge of consolidation. This paper, therefore, engages expository, historical and critical-evaluative methods to systematically lay bare the issues, historically locate the evolution and transformation of traditional African society and critically interrogate the concept of deliberative democracy and public formation in view of advancing an alternative model for democratic practice in contemporary Africa.

Open Full Text (PDF)