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Prepared by Karin Santi

Even though the Session on Democracy and Human rights had considerably less participation than the session on Economy and Development, this month discussion was extremely rich in content. Some panelists and participants chose to focus on the broader questions of Democracy and Human Rights and how it relates to the realities on the continent. For instance both Aina and Odinkalu focussed on the linking of democracy to social justice. Aina argued that in order for democracy to be meaningful it has to be linked to "the promotion of the individual and collective well-being" of African citizens. Odinkalu however differs from Aina saying that a democracy (or transformation) project in Africa will inevitably linked to some sort of chaos. He opines that instead of being apologetic and trying to accommodate global concerns Africa acknowledge that democracy is messy and should not be deceived into trading "long term transformation for short term appearances of order and convenience."

Other panelists and participants narrowed their focus to specific sections of society. Amanor-Wilks focussed on farm workers in Zimbabwe and how the relationship between human rights, democracy and issues of citizenship is often neglected. She linked this to the constitutional review process underway in Zimbabwe. Other contribution also focussed on the value of the constitutional reviews under way in Africa. Odinkalu refers to this as "new fangled national constitutions" that confer rights to the educated élite. Friedman contributed by asking whether it is not possible through a recognition of the "constitutions' élite inspirations and limited effects" to still use the "opportunities they provide to add substance to democratic reform." McFadden highlighted the disadvantaged position of rural women and the role of customs and cultural practises in obstructing their "realisation of citizen[ship]." Various contributors (among them Mamdani and Wanyeki) continued the discussion on cultural practises arguing that cultural practises and customs are not static or immutable. Wanyeki states that "a useful line of inquiry would be the re-interpretation (subversion)" of such practises.

Julie Hearn and others have furthermore highlighted the role of the North and specifically northern donors in democracy discourses in Africa. Minter states that the "profound influence by outsiders on the state of democracy and human rights within a local community or a state is hardly a new phenomenon, for Africa." He however argues that the new global context allows for more "greater transparency and accountability by all involved" but also cautioning that such accountability and transparency will not come easy.

In conclusion I would like to highlight another thread that ran through most contributions, that of how to ensuring participation by the disadvantaged sections of societies or rather the grassroots. Some discussion focussed on how we ensure that democracy processes such as elections and constitutions are not just another way through which the political elite renews their hold over critical resources. In response Steven Friedman stated that the "challenge for African activists - and external actors who wish to support them - is surely not to reject elections but to confront the problem of using the opportunities they present for deeper and more thorough-going democratic projects."

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