Democracy, Oil and Political Stability in West Africa

Pathways to Managing Contested Spaces

Bibliographic Data

ID20389954
AuthorsLinda Darkwa (0000-0002-3106-2744, Senior Research Fellow, University of Ghana), Philip Attuquayefio (0000-0002-9654-2140, Senior Research Fellow, University of Ghana)
Year2020
Volume46
Issue2
Pages292-308
Publication date2020-01-21
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe African Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0856-0056 • E-ISSN: 1821-889X
PublisherWalter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1163/1821889x-12340002
OpenAlexW3003076865
LanguageEN
References cited7

The discovery of oil in commercial quantities in Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Niger has generated optimism of a better life for the people living within the respective countries. This notwithstanding, the narrative surrounding African countries such as Nigeria and Angola as examples of the resource curse syndrome is well documented. Consequently, the conversation on the prospects from the discovery of oil is often measured. Within this context, this article explores the relationship between oil, democracy and political stability in West Africa. While conceding that countries which discovered oil post-democracy will likely avoid the challenges of those that struck oil prior to democracy, it is argued that such prospects are merely conditional due to inherent challenges in the democracy project practised in respective countries in the sub-region. The article thus argues that the pathways to addressing the contested spaces lie in democratic institutions with enhanced institutional capacity

Democracy · Development economics · Dialogical self · Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Narrative · Optimism · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Resource curse · Sierra leone · Sociology · Global Energy and Sustainability Research · Law · Mining and Resource Management · Natural Resources and Economic Development

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