Gender, political inclusion, and democracy in Africa: Some empirical evidence

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of political inclusion on democracy in Africa. The results of the analyses through ordinary least squares, system generalized method of moments, IV Tobit and instrumental variables two stage least squares show that gender political inclusion enhances democracy in Africa. This result is robust across alternative specifications of political inclusion and democracy. The results equally stood when controlled for colonization and internal conflicts. In terms of policy implications, policy makers in Africa should enhance their fight for political inclusion as one of the gateways to promoting democracy. In this respect, national laws could be put in place which impose gender quotas in political positions in every country. Equally, the African Union could sign a convention on these quotas for respective countries to ratify.

Automated summary

This study finds that gender political inclusion enhances democracy in Africa, and the result is robust across alternative specifications. Therefore, policymakers in Africa should strengthen their efforts for political inclusion by implementing gender quotas in political positions through national laws, and the support of the African Union could be sought to promote democratic development.