When the ‘third wave’ of democratization enveloped the African continent in particular, there was widespread excitement across the world that Africa and by extension, the entire world would enjoy freedoms and prosperity.
Prior to this ‘third wave’ trajectory, most Africans lived under authoritarian rule where multi-party elections were a luxury and personal freedoms were severely restricted.
In more ways than one, the democratization march significantly discredited dictatorships, single party regimes and such other undemocratic political systems that were common throughout Africa.
In no small part, the widespread excitement that greeted the transition from dictatorship to democratic systems of governance in Africa represented justifiable optimism and the promise of political stability and economic prosperity.
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