Namibia in the First Decade of Independence

How Democratic

Bibliographic Data

ID7861674
AuthorsGretchen Bauer (0000-0003-4064-6220, corresponding author)
Year2001
Volume27
Issue1
Pages33-55
Publication date2001-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Southern African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0305-7070 • E-ISSN: 1465-3893
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03057070120029491
OpenAlexW2070133229
LanguageEN
Citations received21
References cited27

In the context of the continuing debate between 'optimists and pessimists', this article seeks to evaluate democracy in Namibia in the first decade of independence. Utilizing a minimalist conception of democracy, the article investigates the extent to which the country's democratic constitution has been respected and how the multiparty political system has fared. It considers the record of free and fair elections, and the status of the media and organizations of civil society. The article finds that there are reasons for concern in Namibia today, primary among them the trend toward single party rule, an increasing concentration of power within the executive branch of government and considerable intolerance of democratic political practices, especially among some government leaders. In addition, there have been significant human rights abuses as a result of Namibian involvement in two neighbouring civil wars and an armed insurrection in the North. However, the article concludes that there may still be room for cautious optimism. For example, despite the many challenges, there is evidence of a growing influence on the part of civic organizations and the media in Namibia, and politics have been recently enlivened by the formation of a new political party. Other circumstances related to Namibia's unique transition to democracy also potentially bode well for the future

Civil society · Constitution · Democracy · Democratization · Federalism · Liberal democracy · Political economy · Political science · Political system · Politics · Sociology · ICT Impact and Policies · Law · New Zealand Economic and Social Studies · Public Administration

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub