Since the end of colonialism, apartheid and white-minority regimes, many African countries appear to have had disproportionally large numbers of psychopathic, narcissistic and just mean-spirited leaders.
All these types of leaders in many cases focus on their own self-aggrandisement, often deliberately sowing societal or ethnic divisions for self-enrichment and looting public resources. In power, they also deliberately cause chaos, confusion and uncertainty – to perpetuate their rule.
William Gumede is an associate professor at the School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. His latest book is South Africa in BRICS: Salvation or Ruination (Tafelberg).
I am wondering if one aspect of thing, which is to accept a system that may be oppressive and against the peoplenown interest in the hope that maybe some day, your own family, tribe, consituency will be in charge and will then be able to make it rich by plundering resources. What is missing is a strong stance and acts to fight corruption and ensure resources do go to fund health and education in priority.
Ethiopia is not under colonial era ever before. Yet you put ” …an indigineous post-colonial dictatorship…” What are you trying to say Sir?
Derg is not a post colonial regime. It came to power after the great revolution that overthrew the feudal regime of king Haile Selassie (Ras Teferi/Jah Rastafari?) Ethiopia was defeated by Italy but its hard to perceive the situation as colonization.
Nice picece. I will like to read more and also make probable solution.
For instance, in a patriarchial African society, is it continuously possible, and as a matter of deliberate policy to vote women into power for the next 20 – 30 years? Men rulers have failed woefully in fact compounded and are still compounding our woes on daily basis. African is worse than what it was some 50-60years ago. So, I submit that women should be given right of place in Africa political system as a policy.
Ethiopia is never colonized so the derg government couldn’t be considered post-colonial dictatorship. And your theory doesn’t hold there since there was no colonialism. Secondly your theory is based on the assumption most African countries vote Democratically which is laughable. If you accept the premise that the leaders are dicatators why would you assume the election Democratic?
Interesting read!!! This is the first time i have actually come across a psychological explaination as to why most incumbent post liberation leaders stay in power for such a long time. However, what i failed to get from the article is whether or not we can dismiss election rigging altogether in accounting for these tyrants stay in power. I argue that by and large tyrants are in power due to election rigging. Psychological factors yes but i dont think they have such a huge impact (my thinking).