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Kolonialismens institutionella arv och demokratins villkor

Björklund, Tilde LU (2025) STVK05 20251
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This thesis examines how different colonial governance systems have shaped the institutional foundations of democracy in postcolonial states, focusing on the cases of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, former colonies of Britain and France, respectively. Through a qualitative comparative case study, the analysis explores how the British model of indirect rule and the French centralized, assimilationist system have influenced political institutions, elite structures, and the persistence of authoritarian tendencies. The study draws on three theoretical frameworks: historical institutionalism, postcolonial theory, and an analytical model of democracy based on political competition, participation, and rights. Concepts such as path dependence,... (More)
This thesis examines how different colonial governance systems have shaped the institutional foundations of democracy in postcolonial states, focusing on the cases of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, former colonies of Britain and France, respectively. Through a qualitative comparative case study, the analysis explores how the British model of indirect rule and the French centralized, assimilationist system have influenced political institutions, elite structures, and the persistence of authoritarian tendencies. The study draws on three theoretical frameworks: historical institutionalism, postcolonial theory, and an analytical model of democracy based on political competition, participation, and rights. Concepts such as path dependence, institutional inertia, and elite continuity are employed to assess how colonial institutions, both formal and informal, continue to shape political development today. Findings indicate that while Ghana has established relatively stable democratic institutions, Côte d'Ivoire displays signs of ongoing autocratization and institutional fragility. By integrating historical legacies with contemporary political dynamics, the thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the long-term consequences of colonialism. It highlights how divergent colonial strategies have led to differing democratic trajectories and emphasizes the need to contextualize democracy studies within the legacies of imperial rule. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Björklund, Tilde LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK05 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
language
Swedish
id
9189836
date added to LUP
2025-08-08 10:37:31
date last changed
2025-08-08 10:37:31
@misc{9189836,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines how different colonial governance systems have shaped the institutional foundations of democracy in postcolonial states, focusing on the cases of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, former colonies of Britain and France, respectively. Through a qualitative comparative case study, the analysis explores how the British model of indirect rule and the French centralized, assimilationist system have influenced political institutions, elite structures, and the persistence of authoritarian tendencies. The study draws on three theoretical frameworks: historical institutionalism, postcolonial theory, and an analytical model of democracy based on political competition, participation, and rights. Concepts such as path dependence, institutional inertia, and elite continuity are employed to assess how colonial institutions, both formal and informal, continue to shape political development today. Findings indicate that while Ghana has established relatively stable democratic institutions, Côte d'Ivoire displays signs of ongoing autocratization and institutional fragility. By integrating historical legacies with contemporary political dynamics, the thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the long-term consequences of colonialism. It highlights how divergent colonial strategies have led to differing democratic trajectories and emphasizes the need to contextualize democracy studies within the legacies of imperial rule.}},
  author       = {{Björklund, Tilde}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Kolonialismens institutionella arv och demokratins villkor}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}