Democracy

Traps in Democracy

• Confuses electoral systems and bodies
  Franchise = right to vote. First-past-the-post: highest votes wins a constituency. Proportional representation: seats in proportion to votes.
• Picks a closely related concept
  Learn related terms as contrasting pairs with one-line definitions, then identify which one the stem describes.
• Describes a different system of government
  Learn each classification as a table with one defining feature per type (parliamentary: fused executive and legislature; confederation: units keep sovereignty) and match the stem to that feature.
• Over-generalises a feature
  Political systems vary; options with all/always/never are usually wrong unless the definition itself is absolute.
• Mixes colonial administration policies
  Britain: indirect rule through traditional rulers (Lugard, Northern Nigeria). France: assimilation/association — making Africans 'French'. Portugal: assimilado.
• Confuses international organisations
  ECOWAS: 1975, Lagos treaty, HQ Abuja. OAU: 1963 Addis Ababa → AU 2002. UN: 1945, HQ New York. Commonwealth: former British territories.
• Confuses pre-colonial political systems
  Hausa-Fulani: centralised emirates under the Emir with Sharia. Old Oyo: Alaafin checked by Oyomesi, Ogboni. Igbo: acephalous/segmentary, council of elders, age grades. Ashanti: Asantehene with the Golden Stool, confederacy.
• Military rule misconceptions
  Military regimes suspend the constitution and rule by decrees/edicts; the ruling council (e.g. Supreme Military Council) combines executive and legislative powers.
• Reverses the principle or its effect
  Ask what problem the principle is meant to solve; the right answer serves that purpose, the reversal defeats it.
• Confuses executive roles
  Collective responsibility: the cabinet stands or falls together. Individual responsibility: a minister answers for their department. Ceremonial head of state vs executive head of government.