Elections in Africa During Covid-19: The Tenuous Balance Between Democracy and Human Security

IF 0.9 4区社会学 Q3 POLITICAL SCIENCE

Politikon Pub Date : 2021-04-03 DOI:10.1080/02589346.2021.1913798

K. Matlosa

引用次数: 12

Abstract

ABSTRACT Conventional wisdom conceives of COVID-19 narrowly as a global health crisis requiring a medical response with a view to ensure health security. A holistic approach characterises COVID-19 as a major crisis that require a response that safeguards democracy. With the onset of COVID-19, African countries have either proceeded with elections or postponed them. Each option has come with challenges for democratisation, peace and stability. Furthermore, African countries find themselves at the horns of dilemma between promoting the right to vote (democracy) on one hand and safeguarding the right to health for citizens (human security) on the other. The stark reality is that African states have to advance both democracy and human security in tandem. Depending on contexts, failure to maintain the democracy-human security balance may bolster autocratisation in Africa.

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2019冠状病毒病期间非洲的选举:民主与人类安全之间的脆弱平衡

传统观点认为，新冠肺炎是一场全球卫生危机，需要采取医疗应对措施以确保卫生安全。整体方法将新冠肺炎描述为一场重大危机，需要采取保障民主的应对措施。随着新冠肺炎的爆发，非洲国家要么继续选举，要么推迟选举。每一种选择都伴随着民主化、和平与稳定的挑战。此外，非洲国家发现自己在促进选举权（民主）和保障公民健康权（人类安全）之间左右为难。严峻的现实是，非洲国家必须同时推进民主和人类安全。根据具体情况，未能维持民主与人类安全的平衡可能会助长非洲的独裁统治。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Politikon POLITICAL SCIENCE-

CiteScore

1.90

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

32 weeks

期刊介绍： Politikon focuses primarily on South African politics, but not exclusively so. Over the years the journal has published articles by some of the world" leading political scientists, including Arend Lijphart, Samuel Huntingdon, and Philippe Schmitter. It has also featured important contributions from South Africa"s leading political philosophers, political scientists and international relations experts. It has proved an influential journal, particularly in debates over the merits of South Africa"s constitutional reforms (in 1983 and 1994). In the last few years special issues have focused on women and politics in South Africa, and the South African election of 1999.