Another election is here, in less than 48 hours but again the atmosphere is seriously heightened. It is tensed to such an extent that the law enforcement and security agencies are put on red alert to prevent or forestall any impending political violence which have consistently characterised the electoral exercise since the campaigns began
By Adekunle Alaye
The very first thing that comes to anybody’s mind, when mention the United States of America, is indeed the sophisticated nature of the North American (US) Democracy.
The country is preparing for another general elections in less than 48 hours, on the 5th of November, 2024, but incredibly, the atmosphere has gone so tensed which of course is unusual about the country’s electoral process. With reference to its political history.
We have seen allegations and counter allegations back and fort from the contestants. In fact, the most mind-blowing of it, was a contestant who said he will reject result of the election, if he does not win. Of course, this is not a usual narrative about the US politics. Rather, it is generally ascribed as one of the cardinal features of the Global South.
Though, US was once a British colony for almost 167 years, until July 4th 1776. When it got liberated from the Britain. And it formed the conglomeration of sovereign states as United States of America.
However, despite the trajectory, most countries in the Global South, including Nigeria, have indisputably modeled their political systems and forms of government towards the United States structures. Because of the strong convictions of some of these countries, about the organised nature of the US democracy.
Characteristically, the first thing that comes to one’s mind if you mention the election of any of the Global South, especially Nigeria, is the “Political Violence.” Which of course, in contest, may be relative or real. It depends on the scientific indices or variables explore for critical assessment I suppose!
While it is often assertive, that elections and electoral violence, are common features with the politics and democracy of the Global South, including Nigeria, it is still an uncontestable fact that Nigeria as a country has once in its history, conducted an election (June 12 Presidential elections) adjudged as one of the best in the world.
If we must draw a comparative assessment of the June 12 Presidential elections, held in Nigeria in 1993 and that of the elections held in United States in 2020, ditto with that of Botswana recently, can we say United States is more free of political violence than Nigeria as it stands now?. This was the same elections that even after the court verdict, Donald Trump still insisted he won.
Again, the pre and post elections of the US in 2020 general elections heightened such unusual political upheavals, especially in Donald Trump’s strong holds. Which later led to the judicial intervention.
A big thanks to the strong political institutions in the United States that were able to check the excesses of Donald Trump’s and his political antics. In fact, he almost changed the narratives of the country, fondly refer to as mother of democracy, with such a tensed atmosphere.
Another election is here, in less than 48 hours but again the atmosphere is seriously heightened. It is tensed to such an extent that the law enforcement and security agencies are put on red alert to prevent or forestall any impending political violence which have consistently characterised the electoral exercise since the campaigns began.
Though, the strong political institutions are still put in place to demystify political gladiators that may want to prove beyond any unbearable circumstances. However, the atmosphere is rocked with political tension!
To such an extent, it is simply a fallacy of generalization or assumption, to believe that “Political Violence” is fundamental to the Global South alone and all alone!. No perfect democracy anywhere in the world and no country including the United States can be exonerated of “pseudo” or “quasi” democracy.
Contemporary political systems either in the Global North or South are still all democratizing and not entirely democratic or perfect.
There is true practice of the “Universalisation of Political Violence.”
•Adekunle Alaye, PhD
Department of Political Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye Ogun State, Nigeria.
•Opinions, thoughts or positions expressed here are personal and strictly of the writer/author and not The Daily Crucible.
