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Digital politics: internet and democracy in Africa

Author

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  • Olaniyi Evans

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between internet use and democracy in Africa. It examines the non-linearities and causality between the two variables in the short and long run for 38 countries in Africa. Design/methodology/approach - The study is empirical. It uses pooled mean group and causality tests for the sample of 38 African countries. Findings - The panel long-run and short-run estimates show evidence of significant non-linear relationship between internet usage and democracy. While internet usage is significantly and negatively related to democracy, squared internet usage is significantly but positively related. This suggests that internet usage increases with the decrease of democracy, but after a certain level of internet usage which is the turning point, democracy starts to increase. Additionally, there is uni-directional causality from internet usage to democracy. However, a bi-directional causality exists between squared internet usage and democracy. Research limitations/implications - The empirical evidence from this study suggests that internet usage and democracy are highly interrelated to each other in Africa. The findings support that at the macro level, Africa is moving toward a new stage, where internet will lead to improved levels of democracy and digital politics. Practical implications - Remarkably, the paper shows that democracy displays a quadratic relationship with internet usage. As a whole, the findings indicate a U-shaped pattern: democracy decreases with internet usage, stabilizes, and then increases. In other words, internet usage increases with the decrease of democracy, but after a certain level of internet usage which is the turning point, democracy starts to increase. Social implications - Many African Governments that have frequently imposed restrictions on internet and social media need to stop. The decline in democracy as internet usage increases may be explained by more severity of these restrictions. However, the findings support that at the macro level, Africa is moving toward a new stage, where internet will lead to improved levels of democracy and digital politics. Originality/value - Contrary to previous conceptual papers, the current study empirically investigates the causality between internet and democracy in 38 African countries. The findings indicate a U-shaped pattern: democracy decreases with internet usage, stabilizes, and then increases. In other words, internet usage increases with the decrease of democracy but after a certain level of internet usage which is the turning point, democracy starts to increase.

Suggested Citation

  • Olaniyi Evans, 2019. "Digital politics: internet and democracy in Africa," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 46(1), pages 169-191, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:eme:jespps:jes-08-2017-0234
    DOI: 10.1108/JES-08-2017-0234
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ogechi Adeola & Olaniyi Evans, 2020. "ICT, infrastructure, and tourism development in Africa," Tourism Economics, , vol. 26(1), pages 97-114, February.
    2. Evans, Olaniyi, 2022. "Social and institutional determinants of digital financial inclusion in Africa: A system GMM Approach," MPRA Paper 117006, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Cariolle, Joël & Elkhateeb, Yasmine & Maurel, Mathilde, 2024. "Misinformation technology: Internet use and political misperceptions in Africa," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 400-433.
    4. Joël Cariolle & Yasmine Elkhateeb & Mathilde Maurel, 2022. "(Mis-)information technology: Internet use and perception of democracy in Africa," Documents de travail du Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne 22010, Université Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris 1), Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne.
    5. Evans, Olaniyi, 2018. "Digital Agriculture: Mobile Phones, Internet & Agricultural Development in Africa," MPRA Paper 90359, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Evans, Olaniyi, 2018. "Blockchain Technology and the Financial Market: An Empirical Analysis," MPRA Paper 99212, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Adeola, Ogechi & Evans, Olaniyi & Hilson, Ebo, 2018. "Tourism and economic wellbeing in Africa," MPRA Paper 93685, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Evans, Olaniyi, 2018. "Digital Government: ICT and Public Sector Management in Africa," MPRA Paper 91628, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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