Observing the Transition to Democracy in Postcolonial Africa: Anglophone vs. Francophone

Abstract

The scope of this research is intended to examine the effects of colonization underthe two dominant empires of France and Great Britain over their former African colonies.Through this thesis, I will attempt to answer the following question: What effect did thediffering colonial policies and institutions that were introduced by the French andBritish empires in their African colonies have on the transitions to democracy thatthese colonies made in the years following their independence? I will start this thesisby examining the literature that has been compiled on the colonial ruling practices andthe tendencies of both the British and French empires within their African territories. Iwill then produce a case study of two different African countries, one of the formerFrench colony of Senegal and one of the former British colony of Nigeria, and willexamine how each country’s institutions of governmental administration, education andlanguage, and judicial structure have shaped over the years since their establishmentsunder colonial rule. I will then conclude by using these case studies to determine if theinstitutions that were adopted by the countries from their former colonial empires helpedprovide more successful transitions to democracy compared to one another uponindependence.