How to Ensure Democratisation in Nigeria
Democratisation can be defined as a change in political systems that leads to the creation of a liberal, representative democracy. Democratisation is considered successful when the elites believe that their own interests will be served by the transition. Regardless of political systems, the elites must also see themselves as members of the same nation. Furthermore, the elites must agree on the boundaries of the state, so that they can resolve any conflicts through bargaining.
In its first wave, democracy came to western Europe and northern America during the nineteenth century. During the Interwar period, it was interrupted by the rise of dictatorships. The second wave began after World War II and lasted until the mid-1970s. The third wave began after the fall of the Soviet Union and the collapse of the communist regimes in Eastern Europe and Latin America. Those countries that haven’t yet achieved democratisation are known as hybrid regimes.
Theories of democratisation often focus on two distinct stages: the transition to democracy and the consolidation of democracy. The transition phase involves the undermining of the authoritarian regime and the institutionalisation of democratic institutions and procedures. However, it is not always the case that transition leads to consolidation. In fact, there are reverse waves of democratisation, and this makes it difficult to draw a clear generalisation. A comprehensive model of democratisation must consider both the process of democratisation and the underlying causes.
Regardless of how much research has been done on democratisation, one thing is certain: it is not a process that occurs randomly. The process of democratisation requires a process that is both accelerated and gradual. It requires the active participation of citizens in decision-making, including politicians, in order to achieve the desired change. This requires a consistent effort on the part of all stakeholders, especially citizens, who are arguably the most important actors in the democratic process.
Despite all these challenges, Nigeria remains one nation despite the presence of military regimes and civil war. The quality of leadership in Nigeria is critical to democratisation. A vigorous civil society will increase citizen observance, strengthen accountability and regional organisations, and help leaders of vital institutions of government become more responsive to citizens. So, how can Nigeria ensure democratisation? Let’s take a closer look at the fundamentals of democracy in the country.
As part of democratisation, citizens must be given access to relevant data. This is not to say that all information should be freely available to everyone. Different levels of seniority and roles determine who can access certain data. Democratisation is a process of data governance, and the management of data assets is an integral part of the process. There is no magic wand to make all information accessible to everyone. If there is no such wand, then no democratic system will be able to thrive.
Democratisation should be accompanied by data literacy. While the objective is to make information more accessible, the danger is that data can get lost in data silos. Even when an organization is able to eliminate data silos, it doesn’t mean it won’t be created in another place. In fact, data literacy should be a table stake in every organisation. Every employee should be trained on how to interpret and use data. It should be taught to everyone in order to foster better access to data.
Democratisation can be defined as a change in political systems that leads to the creation of a liberal, representative democracy. Democratisation is considered successful when the elites believe that their own interests will be served by the transition. Regardless of political systems, the elites must also see themselves as members of the same nation. Furthermore, the elites must agree on the boundaries of the state, so that they can resolve any conflicts through bargaining. In its first wave, democracy came to western Europe and northern America during the nineteenth century. During the Interwar period, it was interrupted by the rise of dictatorships. The second wave began after World War II and lasted until the mid-1970s. The third wave began after the fall of the Soviet Union and the collapse of the communist regimes in Eastern Europe and Latin America. Those countries that haven’t yet achieved democratisation are known as hybrid regimes. Theories of democratisation often focus on two distinct stages: the transition to democracy and the consolidation of democracy. The transition phase involves the undermining of the authoritarian regime and the institutionalisation of democratic institutions and procedures. However, it is not always the case that transition leads to consolidation. In fact, there are reverse waves of democratisation, and this makes it difficult to draw a clear generalisation. A comprehensive model of democratisation must consider both the process of democratisation and the underlying causes. Regardless of how much research has been done on democratisation, one thing is certain: it is not a process that occurs randomly. The process of democratisation requires a process that is both accelerated and gradual. It requires the active participation of citizens in decision-making, including politicians, in order to achieve the desired change. This requires a consistent effort on the part of all stakeholders, especially citizens, who are arguably the most important actors in the democratic process. Despite all these challenges, Nigeria remains one nation despite the presence of military regimes and civil war. The quality of leadership in Nigeria is critical to democratisation. A vigorous civil society will increase citizen observance, strengthen accountability and regional organisations, and help leaders of vital institutions of government become more responsive to citizens. So, how can Nigeria ensure democratisation? Let’s take a closer look at the fundamentals of democracy in the country. As part of democratisation, citizens must be given access to relevant data. This is not to say that all information should be freely available to everyone. Different levels of seniority and roles determine who can access certain data. Democratisation is a process of data governance, and the management of data assets is an integral part of the process. There is no magic wand to make all information accessible to everyone. If there is no such wand, then no democratic system will be able to thrive. Democratisation should be accompanied by data literacy. While the objective is to make information more accessible, the danger is that data can get lost in data silos. Even when an organization is able to eliminate data silos, it doesn’t mean it won’t be created in another place. In fact, data literacy should be a table stake in every organisation. Every employee should be trained on how to interpret and use data. It should be taught to everyone in order to foster better access to data.