Importance of Academic Freedom for Democracy in Africa

Abstract

The relationship between academic freedom and democratic competence remains a critical research question in political science. Not only do the current studies not conclusively give us a clear clue about the nature of this relationship, but there is also an apparent ignorance of this critical question in Africa. In this chapter, we move a step closer to a more precise answer by analysing the trends of academic freedom and democratic consolidation in Africa with insights from three countries representing different experiences: Burundi, Ghana and Tunisia. Ghana is an example of stable democratic development with good academic freedom. However, threats to academic freedom still prevail. In Burundi, intimidation and discrimination among scholars and students are common, and the possibility of opposition to challenge the ruling party is also very restricted. In Tunisia, after 2011, the constitution guaranteed freedom of opinion, thought, expression, information and publication, but political developments in 2022 made it an example of democratic backsliding.