非洲風情：妨礙非洲民主進程的三大因素

作為全球第二大洲，非洲擁有五十多個國家。對部分人而言，仍然擺脫不了非洲貧窮落後、缺乏基建和連年征戰的刻板印象。然而這些只是表徵，我們可以從三個層面淺析，為何非洲自九十年代引入多黨制後，民主化的運動不進反退。

在傳統的世襲主義下，當權者將國家資源視為個人財產，並把權力分配給部族或家族成員，施政缺乏官方制度監管。在新世襲主義下，即使國家設有廣泛的官僚機構，包括立法和司法機關，但當權者仍掌控其具體運作，妨礙非洲的民主進程。

在北非，突尼西亞的首任總統布爾吉巴，建立一黨專政。即使在1956年允許國會選舉，但他把一定比例的席位予突尼西亞總工會。這個工會在當地獨立運動期間，一直為布爾吉巴提供支援。正是這種密不可分的關係，妨礙非洲的民主改革進程。

另一個因素，是國家領導人以防止分裂之名，抑制自由為實。在殖民時期，「自由」成為國父號召大眾的手段，團結受壓迫的民眾反抗正殖民者，為人民創造擺脫殖民壓迫，實現自由的願景。然而，內部矛盾未有徹底解決，這種團結的精神只是屬性短暫性。

爭取獨立後，內部勢力互相爭奪權力和資源，甚至演變成內戰。為了促進民族團結，後殖民政權反過來限制「自由」。例如位於東非的烏干達政府，以減少派系鬥爭為由，實施19年無黨派體制。在團結與自由間，非洲多數國家選擇犧牲後者，換取獨裁下的統一。

最後，中央集權的結構亦可能扼殺民主政體發展。當權者嚴格管制邊境和運輸，通過徵稅維持政權穩定。基本上，首都與其他地區的資源不均，壟斷其他人民的發展機會。民眾要不依賴政府津貼，要不透過賄賂官員求存，加劇體制腐敗的速度。

Three Factors that Undermine Democratic Progress in Africa

Africa is the second largest continent. Though there are more than 50 countries, most of the people still indulge in its rigid stereotype: endemic poverty, weak infrastructure, and pronounced inter-communal tensions.

Building a successful democracy is not a piece of cake. To comprehensively explain the setback of democratization in Africa, those symptoms are not as content as the three barriers suggested by Nic Cheeseman.

Patrimonialism refers to incumbents sharing their authority to their family or ethnic community. They seize state resources as personal possession, and run the government in the absence of check and balance.

As time went by, patrimonialism transformed into a new phase. Under neopatrimonialism, the establishment of state-controlled formal institutions fail to supervise the government effectively, which hinders democracy progress.

In Tunisia, the founding father, as well as the first President Bourguiba established a single party regime. In 1956, Election of the National Assembly was allowed. But he channeled a handful of seats to UGTT.

UGTT was a trade union, which supported his proclamation rally of Tunisian independence. Democracy reform was difficult under such an inalienable relationship, in order to secure the control of the parliament by the regime.

Struggle between freedom and unity is another main factor of deteriorating democracy. During the colonial period, “freedom” was an effective means to unite people, free from colonial oppression and free to fulfil one’s aspirations.

After independence, the forgotten internal schisms rocked the country, and even evolved into civil conflict. To prompt unity at any cost, the postcolonial regimes imposed constraints on “freedom” reversely.

In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni took power after a period of chronic instability. In order to reduce sectarian violence ostensibly, he implemented no-party democracy for 19 years, against the pressure from his party.

Last but not least, the democratic politics is strangled by the centralised state structures. Incumbents sustain their regimes via tax and levies, by controlling borders and transport, which lead to dependency of the regime.

Uneven resources between the capital and other regions monopolised development. People rely on the welfare system, or create chances of survival by bureaucratic bribery, which exacerbates the setback of democracy.

名稱：非洲民主：成功、失敗與政治改革的鬥爭 (暫譯) (Democracy in Africa: Successes, Failures, and the Struggle for Political Reform)

作者：Nic Cheeseman

年份：2015

出版地：美國

出版社：劍橋大學出版社

類別：非洲政治

評分：7/10