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Multiple Faces of Democrats: Satisfaction with Democracy and Support for Democracy in Malawi

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  • Michael Chasukwa

Abstract

Matters of satisfaction with and support for democracy have been at the centre of discussion regarding the survival and quality of democracy in Africa since the early 1990s. While the dominant discourse claims that support for democracy keeps on increasing with time, African countries have somewhat deviated from this path. Thus, African countries have had decreasing levels of satisfaction with democracy and support for democracy since the third democratisation wave of the early 1990s. This article takes interest in the trends of satisfaction with democracy and support for democracy with the objective of explaining factors contributing to the undermining of the survival and quality of democracy. A mixed methods research design, using Afrobarometer survey data for four rounds and secondary data, is deployed to address issues pertaining to critical and satisfied democrats as raised in the article. The article finds that satisfaction with democracy and education are significant predictors of support for democracy in Malawi. It also establishes that critical democrats fight to make democracy work, albeit for their economic survival. The article argues that the survival and quality of democracy in Malawi is compromised by elite critical citizens who show commitment to democracy as a matter of principle when they are instrumentalists.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Chasukwa, 2019. "Multiple Faces of Democrats: Satisfaction with Democracy and Support for Democracy in Malawi," Insight on Africa, , vol. 11(1), pages 18-37, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:inafri:v:11:y:2019:i:1:p:18-37
    DOI: 10.1177/0975087818814913
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Rakner, Lise, 2012. "Foreign Aid and Democratic Consolidation in Zambia," WIDER Working Paper Series 016, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Bratton, Michael & Mattes, Robert, 2001. "Support for Democracy in Africa: Intrinsic or Instrumental?," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 31(3), pages 447-474, July.
    5. Cheeseman, Nic, 2014. "Does the African middle class defend democracy? Evidence from Kenya," WIDER Working Paper Series 096, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Nic Cheeseman, 2014. "Does the African Middle Class Defend Democracy?: Evidence from Kenya," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2014-096, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
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