المجتمع المدني في إفريقيا جنوب الصحراء: حضورا وتأثيرا

Abstract EN

African societies have known the existence of civil society organizations since ancient times, as they played a role in the overthrow of colonial regimes during colonialism and could have achieved an effective role in the post-colonial phase.

However, their link with the crisis of Stateness and the repercussions of the colonial legacy made substantive characteristics to the concept of civil society in sub-Saharan Africa, which are different from the Western concept.

This is due to the internal structures that bear practices resulting from the link between the past and the present, where African countries inherited authoritarian practices supported by clientelism and personalization of power and the ruler’s dominance over the joints of political and social life through the corporate system in sub-Saharan Africa, where civil society recruits politically for loyalty to authority, and in return, these organizations receive special privileges, as well as the state’s monopoly over the media, especially within the one-party system, with bureaucratic obstacles.

This led to the disruption of the civic sense, particularly when it was fueled by tribalism and ethnicity.

Civil society organizations spread in the region in the form of syndicate, religious organizations, and professional unions, which contributed to the waves of political liberalization and democratization in sub-Saharan Africa, including associations of lawyers and journalists and farmers’ organizations.

There are also those who obtain external support, such as religious organizations, as they become subject to external parties.

African countries have been in line with democratic reforms by expanding the spread of civil society in various fields, including human rights, moreover, Civil society institutes have also been developed regionally, aiming to encourage society to express its interests.

However, the absence of a definitive separation between the state and civil society in sub-Saharan Africa makes the latter a dependent party to the equation, therefore, it carries complications when it employed in Africa.

Conversely, on the other hand, civil society may achieve democratic consolidation through the emergence of the middle class, which has a role in building associations and organizations, but it still faces financial problems, security and political instability in sub-Saharan Africa.

Hence, the role of civil society can only be activated by achieving its independence and strengthening it, by discussing societal issues to increase political awareness, civic education, creating an environment conducive to political action, and taking into account Western mechanisms for the specifics African societies and spreading a culture of dialogue, accountability and respect for others.