Do the Power-sharing deals in Africa dilute or strengthen the idea of Democracy?

Question

In Kenya and Zimbabwe, there have been two elections that caused internal and external outcries and seemed to be rigged. As well these nations fall on tribal lines. The result is the two main parties representing the different tribes share power.

What do these agreements mean and how are they enforced?

Do they weaken the idea of democracy, the idea that people choose their own leader?

Answer 1

It really depends on the situation. In established deomcratic governments such as exist in western Europe, power sharing arrangements are quite common, and have varying degrees of success.

Within unstable or corrupt regions, the arrangements are really more to establish peace.

Security of the citizenry must be established first before democratic reforms can occur.

The larger issue is whether or not the current regimes in power will use this as an opportunity to transition out or simply use this as propoganda. If the former is true then yes it will strengthen democracy. If the later then it won't

Personally I think Kenya has a better chance than Zimbabwe