Africa’s civil society has a crisis of legitimacy. They are
perceived as “unelected, unaccountable institutions that answer to elswhere”. In
an editorial published Novermber 26, 2013, the Daily Nation observerd that “if
some NGOs behave as if they are acting at the behest of foreigners, then they
cannot expect easy accommodation by governments”.
The idea of civil society emerged in the
eighteenth century Europe as philosophers and historians sought to come to
terms with the capitalist modernity. The emerging market economy was perceived
to be bursting the state’s integument of unbridled capitalist accumulation.
Enlightenment thinkers believed that it was civil society, the pressure of its
public opinion, which determined how free, efficient and honest a market would
emerge.
Scottish thinker, Adam Fergerson, thought of civil society as an
alternative both to the state of nature and the heightened individulism of
capitalism. German philosopher Friedrich Hagel, argued that civil society
needed to be balanced and ordered by the state, otherwise it be consumed by
self interest and would not contribute to the common good. French political thinker
Alexis De Tocqueville argued that volunteerism, a sense of community spirit and
independent associational life as protections against the domination of society
by state, was a counterbalance to keep the state effective and accountable.
The idea of civil society, rooted in the Elightenment, was
forgotten and re-emerged in the 1980s, given contemporary relevance by Czech
teachers, writers, and journalist, shipyard workers and the intellectuals of
Poland’s Solidarity. Inside these covert institutions blossomed the liberating
energies that led to fall of the Berlin Wall and fueled revolutions in Hungary,
Czechoslovakia, Poland and Romania in 1989.
Inspired by De Tocqueville’s idea of civil society and
emboldened by the triumph of civil rights moverments in Eastern Europe and the end
of the cold war, Africa’s nascent civil society organizations enabled the
emergence of democracy in the 1990s. However, it is now widely perceived that
the civil society is in trouble with Africa’s political class. Prescriptive
universalism, the idea that civil society in Africa is a good thing and must be
nurtured is becoming increasingly doubtful.
Is there a place for civil society in 21st Century
Africa? If there is, what kind of civil society and for what purpose?
Africa in the 21st century is
different, it is a new Africa: buoyed by the Africa rising narrative; entranced
by sovereignty and a spirit of Africa can do; inspired by China’s economic
model and its growing influence in Africa; a self-possessed African Union, exasperated
by perceived selective persecution of Africa’s leaders by institutions like the
International Criminal Court. Moreover, we must deal with the fact that civil
society in Africa is dominated by a legion of development NGOs funded by foreign
donors. These NGO are large transnational organizations, which are seen as
institutions of transnational governmentality, and are capable of challenging
state legitimacy and undermining national sovereignty.
A new Africa defines the perfect
condition for the emergence of a new, uniquely African civil society. Strong
African economies, with vehement sovereignty claims could enable the emergence
of strong and legitimate states. This will cause expectations of the state to
rise, with citizens demanding better health and education, economic equality,
more accountable political leadership and transparent governance. Capable,
homegrown civil society organizations must emerge as a counterbalance to keep the state effective and accountable.
A uniquely African civil society space must
be a platform for mobilizing voluntary associations for public purpose. A
uniquely African civil society space could be the guardian of the ‘national development
ideology’. State capitalism or private sector driven models currently favored
by African leaders could degenerate into autocratic populism unless Africa’s
civil society is vigilant and engaged to entrench fundamental freedoms and rights,
while ensuring equitable distribution of economic growth. Civil society must
re-invent itself. It can’t be business as usual.
Kenya’s Public Benefit Organizations Act
recognizes the role of civil society in supporting socio-economic development,
building social cohesion and promoting democracy. These must not be empty
words.
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