Uproar against Liberal Majoritarianism: Critiques from African Perspectives

Abstract The article deals with critiques of liberal majoritarianism from an African, chiefly sub-Saharan-African perspective. It explains the central claims African and Africanist critics advance against liberal majoritarianism and indicates potential normative ways of development. The case study of Guinea-Bissau exemplifies our arguments using a qualitative analysis of interviews with local respondents. The article infers that this is an instance of a more general perception of liberal majoritarianism in Africa. The article contributes to critiques that range from empirical and theoretical concerns over the feasibility of this model in sub-Saharan Africa to analyses of cultural, social, and political specificities.