| Description |
In the building of new states in Sub-Saharan Africa following the long period of British colonialism, successful democracies have been few and far between. Eswatini, the main focus of this research, began as a democracy following its independence in 1968, but soon slid into authoritarianism. Today, Eswatini still is one of the last absolute monarchies in the world. Although other countries have made better attempts at installing democracy, the majority of former Sub-Saharan African British protectorates have shown authoritarian tendencies since independence. The responsibility of British colonial powers in this democratic backsliding has been hotly debated among political scientists, as some blame can certainly still be put on power-hungry leaders of these newly independent African states. By analyzing the development of four necessary conditions to successful democracy - the absence of foreign control, desire for democracy, market economy, and sustainable institutions - in Eswatini, this research aims to find the true impacts of British colonialism on the country, as well as its applicability to its neighbor states. My research indicates that although missteps have been taken by the leaders of Eswatini and other Sub-Saharan African countries, the legacy of British colonial rule set these countries up for failure in creating the necessary conditions for lasting democracy. |
