Journal of Political Sciences & Public Affairs
Open Access

Abstract

Socio-Demographic Negligence and State Stability in Africa

Ogadinma Ikonne*, Allens Iheonu, Sam Odachi

No state has ever attained stability neglecting vital socio-demographic issues that encourage good governance and cause citizens to enjoy dividends of democracy. This work focused on socio-demographic negligence and state stability in Africa. It concentrated on such factors as age, gender, education and place of residence and how they could be leveraged on, to enhance governance in Africa. The work was anchored on the demographic transition theory to explain how the negligence of the socio-demographic factors could mar the chances of African states coming out of state instability evident in the myriads of political, economic, religious and ethnic and security crises they face. Data was generated through secondary sources such as academic journals, books and internet sources while the analysis was critically presented and interrogated. It was observed that African states are largely unstable because of abandonment of their productive and energetic young people for old ones in governance. Besides, the neglect of women in governance; preference for educationally inadequate office holders; inconsideration of place of residence and proper understanding of the plights of the rural people in political offices/appointments affect African states stability negatively. It was concluded that true democracy is lacking in Africa; and therefore recommended that a true democracy should be allowed to thrive in Africa to mitigate challenges of political instability, crisis and poor democratic dividends and remove the negligence of socio-demographic issues in African politics.

Published Date: 2025-01-17; Received Date: 2023-11-09