Assessment of democratic norm promotion, authoritarian regimes, and ECOWAS leadership in West Africa

This paper assessed the challenges of democratic norm regression and promotion in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2019 to 2024. The paper investigated democratic norm regression in Mali, Bulkina Faso and Niger and the efforts of ECOWAS to retain in them in her membership fold in other to fashion. This step would enhance her own version of democratic norm that would be of benefit to all citizens in each country. This paper adopted qualitative research design in form of discourse to explain the phenomenon of democratic norm erosion in West Africa and the activities of major players in the regression or promotion of democratic norms. Secondary data were sourced from journal articles, newspaper reports and ECOWAS leader’s speeches during their extra ordinary meetings. The data were analysed through narrative thematic analysis to create a story on the discourse of democratic norm regression and promotion among ECOWAS States. The paper adopted the social constructivist theory as its framework for analysis. The paper found out that the governance protocol of the regional body is yet to be implemented so as to realise the desired objectives of deepening democracy in the sub-region. The paper concludes that these objectives have not been realized as a result of multiple challenges like interference from external forces and the inability of each country and the regional body to form a single civic identity in place of the multiple identities that prevail in the subregion.