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The Lawfare Podcast

African Elections and U.S. Interests

The Lawfare Podcast

The Lawfare Institute

History, News, National Security, Law, Terrorism, Current Events, Military, International Law, Foreign Policy, Intelligence, International Relations, Politics, Diplomacy, Rule Of Law, Government, Constitutional Law

4.76.4K Ratings

🗓️ 19 March 2019

⏱️ 38 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Demographic, technological, and geostrategic developments are disrupting the electoral landscape in sub-Saharan Africa. How do these shifts affect the political climate for democracy and participation across Africa? What have recent elections in Nigeria illustrated about these? And what about the clash between China and the United States in Africa?

To explore these questions, David Priess spoke with Judd Devermont, director of the Africa program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, host of the Into Africa podcast, and former national intelligence officer for Africa from 2015 to 2018.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:08.0

become a material supporter of LawFair at patreon.com slash law fair.

0:14.0

That's patreon.com slash law fair.

0:18.0

Also, check out LawFair's other podcast offerings,

0:22.0

rational security, chatter, law fair no bull, and the aftermath.

0:29.0

Well, a decade ago, at the end of the Cold War, you know,

0:37.0

there was one single view about democracy, right globally.

0:41.0

We pushed for it, the iffy's pushed for it, the brits, the French, etc.

0:45.0

And, you know, the Bush administration, the Clinton administration,

0:49.0

the Obama administration, prioritized democratization.

0:53.0

It was a key effort. But with the rise of populism,

0:55.0

there's been a walking away on some of these issues.

0:57.0

You know, what's interesting is Africa still has a huge demand for democratization

1:01.0

and democracy, about 70% where there's a global recession elsewhere.

1:05.0

Brexit is kind of keeping UK kind of out of this game a little bit.

1:09.0

So, the content's on its own, which means that

1:13.0

there isn't anyone to reinforce democratic movements right now.

1:17.0

And so, some of the big successes you're seeing is because Africans are doing it.

1:21.0

But there are, been other times in the history of the continent

1:23.0

in the last decade where partnership with an international player has been really

1:27.0

important to keep them, you know, keep those countries on the right trajectory.

...

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