Democracy in Africa depends on countries' vibrant civil societies.

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Author: Chau, Donovan C.

Makau Mutua's Nov. 29 Opinion piece, "How to keep Africa from backsliding," provides a succinct survey of the African political landscape. But Mr. Mutua errs in his policy prescriptions.

First, he recommends exorcising, then renewing and expanding the African political elite. But today this would be destabilizing. Second, he recommends detribalizing African politics. But tribalism and small folk communities are part and parcel of sub-Saharan African society; one cannot remove history and culture without altering indistinguishably a society. Third, he recommends demarginalizing African women, the "voice of the powerless." Here, I would point the reader to the Monitor's profiles of "peace seekers" Betty Bigombe (Sept. 13) and Petronille Vaweka (Sept. 14). I am hesitant, then, to generalize African females as powerless; but I agree that women must be brought more completely into the political fold.

What is needed to prevent Africa from "backsliding," in my opinion, begins closer to the ground. Grass-roots movements are necessary to build vibrant, flourishing civil societies. This requires, first, the attainment of basic human needs - such as clean water, sustainable foods, and healthy living conditions - and, later, educational opportunities and domestic security. Only then will African nations have polities capable of pursuing democratic forms of government.

I am less sanguine than Mutua about what needs to be done to bring African nations into the community of democratic nations. But I agree that the future does rest in the hands of Africans themselves. And they are no less capable of democracy than any other people.

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By Donovan C. Chau

Dr. Chau is the Africa Desk Officer in Applied Marine Technology Inc.'s Intelligence and Terrorism and Analysis Group, Arlington, Va.