Afr. j . polit. sci. (2002), Vol 7 No. 1 "** 
I 
Book Review: Claude Ake, The Feasibility 
of Democracy in Africa 
Dakar: Codesria Book Series, 2000. Pp Z06. 
Since the 1980s, when African governments started implementing economi 
and political reform policies, democracy has become a key paradigm for ana 
lyzing and assessing political developments in Africa. For the donor commu 
nity, the pursuit of democratic politics has become a condition for further ecc 
nomic aid. Democracy as a political form is deemed to be the most appropriat 
framework for achieving social and economic progress. 
Claude Ake's book, The Feasibility of Democracy in Africa examines the valid 
ity of such claims - that democracy is a universal political form, and that it i 
most appropriate for securing economic and social development, etc. It als 
examines the history of the idea of democracy and, more especially, th 
prospects for democracy in Africa, as well as the factors that could inhibi 
success. 
The book opens with a discussion of democracy in its Athenian form an 
how the bourgeois class systematically trivialized it to what is now represents 
tive democracy - a shibboleth of liberal rights and institutions, having reduce 
it to "egotism, interests in conflict and no common interest" (p. 25). He add 
that, in this revisionist enterprise the bourgeoisie has "defined and redefine 
[democracy] in an endless process of appropriating democratic legitimacy fo 
political values, interests and practices that are in no way democratic ... This i 
the context in which -Africa is democratizing" (p. 29). 
Ake interrogates the attempts to impose on African countries the elitism c 
representative democracy, which is implied in its normative and institutions 
framework. He draws attention to the leading role of the masses in the democ 
racy movement; because for them the struggle for democracy is part of a: 
emacipatory project. They are the ones who have the most to gain from th 
restructuring of political and economic power and so have demonstrated com 
mitment in the struggle, despite the obvious risks and sacrifices the it entails 
They must, therefore, be recognized as the motive force of any serious democ 
racy movement before the process can succeed. The book reminds us, and espt 
daily the donor community for whom democracy is desirable primarily becaus 
it is a public good and a condition for economic incorporation of Africa into th 
1027-0353 ° 2002 African Association of Political Science
156 Claude Ake 
world economy, that Africa's struggle for democracy is driven by the imperative 
of meeting the basic citizenship entitlements of the masses who have been 
denied for so long. 
In this regard, the book further questions the conventional ways of solving 
what the author calls "the problem of simultaneity" which is the orthodox way 
in which the economic is separated from the political, and development is 
opposed to democracy. This, according to Ake, immediately makes democracy 
an enemy of economic reform and development. He calls for a new approach to 
this problem of simultaneity and proposes as a solution "the democratization of 
development and the development of democracy, that is, the deepening of the 
democratic experience in every sphere" (p. 87). This, he argues, would produce 
a new synthesis, a new development strategy. It is the pursuit of such a strategy 
that promises to yield the necessary emancipatory benefits for the masses. 
Futhermore, the author makes critical observations about foreign intervention 
- both economic and political; political conditionality; and military expenditure, 
as well as their contribution, or otherwise, to the democracy project in 
Africa. Ake is conscious of the contradictions in the democratization process 
and, therefore, raises an important caution about the danger of settling for formal 
democracy, with the emphasis on multi-party systems, elections, representative 
institutions, etc as its essence. He warns that failure to exercise a critical 
caution "might compromise the emancipatory character" of the entire democratization 
project. 
Without doubt, The Feasibility of Democracy in Africa is another powerful 
product by Claude Ake. The book provides a refreshing insight into the problem 
of democracy and democratization in Africa. Its appeal lies in the frank, engaging 
and incisive analysis of the contradictions in the idea of, and struggles for, 
democracy in Africa. It will surely count as a further tribute to the scholarship 
of Claude Ake and his stainless commitment to Africa's emancipation. 
Kwame A. Ninsin 
Department of Political Science 
University of Ghana 
Legon, Ghana