Ghana: Political Structures, Civil Society and Democracy

Abstract

Political and social structures have the capacity to strengthen or weaken moves towards stable democracy. They may eventually become strong enough to regulate the various pressures on the political system, and to limit the powers of governments and their leaders. But each structure may also have a perception of its own role and interests that will lead to destabilisation. What happens if the state bureaucracy lacks the will or ability to implement the policies for which people have voted? Or if soldiers decide that it is their prerogative, and not that of the electorate, to remove governments? Or if nondemocratic forces in the wider society carry more weight than democratically-chosen political parties? Or if parties which came to power with democratic intentions find that the checks and balances provided by the legislature and judiciary are weak, and that parties are not punished if they stray from the democratic path?