عنوان

African Traditional Deliberative and Agonistic Democracy:

Number

LA127277

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

African Traditional Deliberative and Agonistic Democracy:

General Material Designation

[Article]

Other Title Information

A Maravi Perspective

First Statement of Responsibility

Grivas M. Kayange

Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.

Leiden

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Brill

Text of Note

This essay traces elements of democracy in the history of African political thought, mainly in the Maravi Kingdom which once spanned the regions of present-day Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique. Based on the study of Maravi history, language, and some published philosophical reflections on democracy, elements of both deliberative and agonistic democracy are demonstrably present in these traditions. These elements include consensus-building, democratic legitimisation of leaders (such as kings) and the capacity to tame agonism in the community. While some of the main studies on African traditional theory of democracy build on an exotic and exceptional conception of African culture as communitarian, this paper argues for using the model of moderate communitarianism as representative of African societies through the ages. On this view the understanding is that indigenous African political cultures accommodate both communitarian and individualistic elements independently of Western influences. It is the accommodation of these cultural elements as indigenous to Africa that allows democracy to flourish in various African settings. This essay traces elements of democracy in the history of African political thought, mainly in the Maravi Kingdom which once spanned the regions of present-day Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique. Based on the study of Maravi history, language, and some published philosophical reflections on democracy, elements of both deliberative and agonistic democracy are demonstrably present in these traditions. These elements include consensus-building, democratic legitimisation of leaders (such as kings) and the capacity to tame agonism in the community. While some of the main studies on African traditional theory of democracy build on an exotic and exceptional conception of African culture as communitarian, this paper argues for using the model of moderate communitarianism as representative of African societies through the ages. On this view the understanding is that indigenous African political cultures accommodate both communitarian and individualistic elements independently of Western influences. It is the accommodation of these cultural elements as indigenous to Africa that allows democracy to flourish in various African settings.

Date of Publication

2018

Physical description

23-44

Title

Utafiti

Volume Number

13/2

International Standard Serial Number

2683-6408

Subject Term

agonism

Subject Term

communitarianism

Subject Term

consensus

Subject Term

democracy

Subject Term

Maravi kingship

Grivas M. Kayange

Call Number

10.1163/26836408-01302003

Electronic name

p

[Article]

275578

a

Y