The military and democratization in West Africa: Issues, problems, and anomalies

This article argues that democratization as a global phenomenon is being seriously undermined in West Africa by the legacy of a history of military intervention in politics, the inclination of the military to preserve its socio-economic privileges acquired during authoritarian rule. Democratization is also jeopardized by the penchant by old guard politicians to politicize the military for their personal gain. Assessing the impact of political liberalization and its corollary economic liberalization on the sub-region, the analysis shows that democratization has been either undermined or potentially threatened by a number of factors. These include (a) the continued military intervention in some states; (b) the insidious role of old guard politicians and their propensity for politicizing the military; (c) the overwhelming dominance of some incumbent parties; and (d) the civilianization and legitimization of military heads of state through electoral manipulation and vote rigging.