Padiet, James Solomon (2004) John Locke's Liberal Democracy: A Possible Basis for a Stable Government in the Sudan. MPhil thesis, Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
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Abstract
The thesis expresses my attempt to apply the philosophical knowledge I have gained so far fqr the betterment of my country, Sudan. I have learnt a lot from many philosophers but would that knowledge make any sense if I don;t bring it down to 'Objective situation in my life? i believe very much in the power of ideas, which is workable for social engineering that aims at the good ofmankind. When I reflected on the situation oqhe Sudan as it stand today, and placed it within John Locke's theory of state, I could see that applying his ideas could · contribute to making this country stable at least in its politics and policies. I could not hesitate .that 'Liberal Democracy', whose foundation was laid down in Locke's Political Philosophy long ago could be a better possible basis of a stable government in the Sudan. There are different types of Democracies that have been practiced in the Sudan but they still lacked the respect for fundamentals of principles of Individualism (reason, equality, freedom and consent) and Constitutionalism (rule of law, rights, duties and toleration) The consequences of these violations have been the political upheavals, which have led to disintegration in many parts of this largest country among the African states and the richest in natural resources. The thesis proceeds from Locke's political arguments to the situation ofpolitics in the Sudan. Locke's first main argument is that, for individual persons to be liberal democrats, they should reject theories and practices that humiliate human persons, even if they are justified on claim of divine rights. An example of these theories is the one that says human persons are naturally evil and need an absolute monarch to tame them and make them good, but at the same time this monarch should be above the people as his word means law and decree for them. Locke's second main argument is that the legitimate government is the one in which people participate freely and fairly; the one ·in which they choose leaders accountable to them. People make social contract expressly or tacitly and then erect government for efficient achievement of their common good, based on justice and respect, especially when its powers divided and separated as legislative, executive (including judges and magistrate, i.e., judiciary), federative and prerogative. When this cgovernment no longer acts for this purpose and abrogate this fiduciary powers, then ~t has to quit before people rise up to dissolve it revolutionarily. Slavery, usurpation and conquest are evil pract~ces and should not be tolerated by the people ifcarried out by any government. Revolution by the people according to the majority rule is justified in these cases to correct those evils (but not in minor or lesser evils). Having these arguments in mind we examine the history of politics in the Sudan from the ancient ages to the recent time. We see that evil practices of slavery, usurpation and conquest (colonialism) were very common in the politics of the Sudan. Several governments . got · dissolved by revolutions, military coups and popular uprisings because people were not happy with them. But it has been unfortunate that the leaders who ascended to power after those revolutions cling to it as demagogues and fall into the same fit as the dissolved governments. The results of this dishonesty by leaders were the recurrence of military coups, popular uprisings, and civil wars, which inflicted terrible socio-economic wound to the Sudan because of destruction of lives and properties. The Sudan, inspite of her richness in resources remains among the poorest countries in the world because of these recurrent political upheavals. But as we believe in change like Heraclitus of the ancient Greece, we still hope that the Sudan could do better if it tries to focus on the ideals of liberal democracy and get committed to its practice. Commitment to respect of the principles , of individualism and · constitutionalism by both leaders and people of the Sudan could bring peace and harmony to this country as her parties start denouncing and avoiding hegemony, sectarian interests, discriminatory ideologies, nepotism and family dynasties in their policies. This is not impossible if both the people and leaders work co-operatively and in solidarity for the good ofthe whole Sudan, especially the less privileged and marginalized areas.
| Item Type: | Thesis (MPhil) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BD Speculative Philosophy |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | JHI Africa |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Jan 2015 10:08 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Mar 2018 11:59 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/156 |
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