Factors that Influence Social Protests and their Effect on Peace and Stability in Africa

Abstract

The emergence of democratic governance in Africa in the aftermath of the Cold War in the 1990s has been marred by the rise and spread of violent social protests. These protests mostly result from the lack of quality basic services to the people that then deprive them of their freedom from fear and wants. As a form of political expression, social protests influence the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of the public, and are particularly aimed at policy-makers in political leadership and/or organisations. For example, Africa has seen a huge resurgence of public protests that manifest in public demonstrations, petitions, boycotts, lobbying, and various online activities. Social protests in Africa are influenced by the lack of inclusive political leadership and the existence of uneven political institutions that foster the gap between the haves and have-nots. As a result, the African problems and conflicts have become intractable, and affect the achievement of peace and security. In Africa, social protests have intensified conflicts and civil wars, while on other continents, they have led to political leaders' addressing the issues that led to human rights violations. This means that social protests can foster a culture of peace and stability. There is scant literature that explains the factors that have led to the recurrence of protests in Africa. This presents a unique gap in the current literature that has not yet received academic attention. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the factors influencing social protests and their effect on peace and security in Africa. The research question the paper seeks to answer is: What factors could lead to the recurrence of social protests, and what are possible ways to address the threats that these social protests pose to peace and security in society?