From Trump to Biden: What Lessons for Africa?
By: Maria Nzomo, PhD
Professor of International Relations & Governance
& Director, Institute of Diplomacy & International Studies (IDIS)
The US electoral period started on November 3rd 2020, when American citizens went to the polls to elect their 46th President, and continued up to January 20th 2021-the inaugural day for the new President elect- Joe Biden and vice- President-Kamala Harris- the world remained focussed on the unfolding extraordinary events that were playing out in the US. The US claim for being the custodian of electoral democracy per excellence, was unmasked and found wanting as Trump cried foul and rejected the electoral outcome and thereafter unleashed his extremist supporters, who forcefully stormed into Capitol, as the world watched in utter shock, dismay and disappointment. To top it all up, Trump declined to attend the inauguration of his successor or to congratulate him. It is understandably difficult for many observers around the world, to reconcile the Trump-led “autocratic- democratic” government on the one hand, and the other that is nearly 232 years old, that is depicted as a, well functioning and stable democracy, that the rest of the world could emulate. The election “crisis” that started in November 2020, dented the narrative of American “exceptionalism” and US claim to being the leading democracy globally. On the positive side, the US benefitted from robust institutions that facilitated the public to freely choose leaders whom they believe would protect their democratic values. For African Countries in particular, the US 2020 electoral events, raised the question as to why the US in its interaction with various African countries since the 1960s, had claimed the moral high ground, as it criticized and tutored the Continent on the how and why to attain democratic governance through “free and fair” elections.
As Biden embarks on his four year tenure as US 46th President, analysts are still seeking to unravel, explain and proffer some lessons that the rest of the world, especially Africa, could learn from the 2020 US elections. The USA elections and the entry of the Joe Biden- Kamala Harris administration have elicited varied reactions and interpretations. For some for example, the Joe Biden win of US elections and eventual ascendancy to the Capitol office is viewed as a triumph for the global liberal progressive forces against the revisionist bigotry forces fronted by former president Donald Trump.
For the four years that Donald Trump was in power, the American democracy was shaken as the president undermined the established governance institutions. Trump bought into Capitol a self centered unconstitutional and authoritarian style of governance. President Trump consolidated executive powers and ruled like a despot hence creating the new Trumpism culture in the American society. His scathing attacks on the press, complaints about the American judicial system and abuse of presidential power, collectively negated a constitutional worldview. A renowned African scholar describes Trump as: “unhinged, chaotic, incompetent, cruel, crude, corrupt, authoritarian, and exhausting president; a pathological liar, an irredeemable narcissist, incorrigible racist, contemptible showman, and reprehensible bully who demeaned and diminished democracies and comforted and cavorted with dictatorships around the world.
The four years of Donald Trump presidency in the US were indeed full of unusual and extraordinary political, social and economic drama- played out by a political Leader who claimed global leadership but which he systematically undermined and destroyed. In article titled: “Trump fired and Biden hired”, P.T. Zeleza-an Africanist scholar- aptly describes Trump as “one of the worst presidents in American history, who brutally and blithely exposed the failings and fragilities of American democracy, the enduring polarizations of its body politic, and the deformities of its institutions----- and severely damaged American society and global standing”.,
One of the notable aspects of the US November 2020 elections, was the closeness of the race and the willingness of many Americans to support Trump-an autocratic leader-who had not promoted human rights, climate change, anti-racism, and gender equity
Democracy as a form of governance: What Can Africa learn from the US Elections?
On the matter of democratic governance, Trump’s Presidential tenure and the conduct of the November 2020 US electoral process, exposed the fragile underbelly of US democracy, as an ideology and as a form of government. The ‘expose’ was a stark reminder that democracy is “the worst form of government, except for all the others.”
Under the banner of democracy, Trump succeeded in winning the 2016 elections against Hillary Clinton,who won the popular vote and thereafter presided over one of the most autocratic regimes in US history. In his 2020 attempt to win a second Presidential term, he succeeded in garnering 70 million votes- quite close to Biden’s 74 million votes.
In this connection, one commentator noted that the Trump presidency was an “embodiment of the profound and long-standing deficits of American society and democracy and showed the inherent flaws of American democracy. The fact that about 40% of the population consistently supported him throughout his presidency, and he went on to win 70 million votes in the 2020 presidential election, shows he represented a large block of American society and embraced their values of intolerance, bigotry, and racism”.
Trump’s Presidential tenure also exposed fundamental weaknesses and flaws in American democracy, especially in its inability to contain a rogue president and to hold him to account, and its reliance on the goodwill of its politicians to function. U.S. democracy was also facing its greatest challenge in a generation, simultaneously confronting an authoritarian leader, a global pandemic, and the consequences of centuries of systemic racism and inequality.
Larry Diamond- a leading contemporary scholar in the field of democracy studies, noted in his November 2020 article in the journal: Foreign Affairs, titled: “A new Administration will not be able to heal American Democracy “that, the “rot in U.S. political institutions runs deeper than Trump-----the broad signs of political decay are familiar—and alarming—to comparative scholars of democracy: the growing polarization, distrust, and intolerance among supporters of the main opposing parties; the increasing tendency to view partisan attachments as a kind of tribal identity; the intertwining of partisan affiliations with racial, ethnic, or religious identities; and the inability to forge political compromises across partisan divides—and hence to mount effective policy responses to national issues.”
This view is shared by other commentators that basically argue that the removal of the person of Trump from the White house cannot fundamentally restore democratic culture and values in American governance: “Trumpism will not have been swept into the dustbin of history; it will remain all over the furniture. It’s part of the furniture- unsweepable.”
In other words, the fragility and dysfunctional nature of American democracy preceded Trump but Trumpism exacerbated it. President Biden is keenly aware of this fact. In his inaugural speech on 20th January, 2021, he evoked the term “democracy” more than 15 times. He started off his speech by declaring that his inauguration ceremony was a celebration of “the triumph not of a candidate, but of the cause of democracy”. He repeatedly reminded his American audience that democracy is precious but fragile. He also passionately appealed for unity as an important pillar for strengthening American democracy.
Democratic governance-What lesson for Africa?
U.S. democracy is facing its greatest challenge in a generation, simultaneously confronting an authoritarianism, economic crises, a global pandemic, and the consequences of centuries of systemic racism and inequality.
Americans tend to think of “our country” as democracy’s exemplar, and the US has a long history of pointing out governance problems abroad, suggesting steps to solve them, and often devoting resources to various forms of intervention. This has been the case in U.S. policy toward Africa for decades
First, It is important for Africa to take note that Democracy is fragile and must be constantly nurtured contextually. It is always work in progress that needs to be jealously guarded and consolidated.
Second, while the core principles of Democracy are universal, the application of the principles is contextual. For the US, its version of electoral democracy, though imperfect, is largely institutionalized and it has served the country relatively well for 230years, despite some hiccups such as those occasioned by unexpected crisis of, leadership failure under Trump, global upheavals, CORVID-19, etc.
For Africa, the Challenges for electoral Democracy are greater than in the US, as most of Africa has yet to develop strong and independent governance institutions; internalize, practice and normalize shared democratic values and principles of governance. African countries have yet to reach the stage where an incumbent “Trump type” president can be successfully impeached and/ or removed from office through constitutional means without occasioning violence. The US has survived Trump because it has strong governance institutions that cannot easily be manipulated by political leaders. However the Trump regime and his expulsion from power have exposed both the fragility and resilience of American institutions.
For Africa, through legislation, there is need to strengthen oversight mechanisms and impose firm and enforceable Presidential term limits, as one ways to prevent, an incumbent from “hardening into a despot”.
Lessons Learnt: Leadership and institutions matter
Both institutions and leadership do matter in strengthening democracy. However, they can take years to nurture, before they become a critical pillar in the democratization process. Furthermore, institutions do not build themselves; they require a supporting national culture, to nurture and sustain them.
Similarly, as earlier demonstrated, the case of Trump and Biden regime change process, demonstrate that Leadership is critical in the management of public affairs and the conduct of a country’s foreign relations. In matters of governance the type of leaders a country has in power, do matter. Accordingly, one commentator has argued that ‘every entity rises and falls based on the capacity and choices of its leaders.”
The US November 2020 elections and related events, have brought to the fore the close nexus between leadership and governance institutions. Without doubt, Trump coloured the US presidency and the management of both domestic and Foreign affairs, in his own image. Under his presidency, he gave the US the face of unpredictability and irrationality. Similarly, Biden in his inaugural speech, after taking the oath of office, he immediately begun to paint the US domestic and foreign Affairs in a different, calmer, predictable and warmer “Biden colour.” He assured his global audience that under his tenure, “America would repair its alliances and engage with the world once again--would lead, not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example”. As a result of this assurance, along with his friendly personality, Biden’s victory has been greeted with great relief by many countries around the world. He has come to represent hope for a more cooperative and predictable US, that would actively participate in multilateralism and in resolving the many global problems that require a collective action..
Leadership & institutions: Lesson for Kenya and Africa
The lesson here is to nurture governance institutions and to treat electoral democracy as a critical moment to choose and put into political office, the best men and women of integrity to serve the people and nurture democratic institutions of governance.
Secondly, Kenya and Africa should learn how to invest in building secure and sustainable democracies and robust institutions that can withstand and manage any existential threats or challenges without violence or bloodshed.
Post -Trump US engagement with the world- What gains for Kenya and Africa.
Under the Biden Administration, the change of leadership is likely to see a more robust US embracing multilateralism in the conduct of international affairs
The Biden administration is likely to take a bolder and firm approach against various common international threats including terrorism and other forms of violent extremism, as well as provide more strategic and practical solutions in the context of human security concerns especially the areas of public health, energy, climate change, governance and human rights.
In the global environmental movement and health sector, the world has already witnessed the quick return of the US to the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization to combat COVID-19 and other long-standing and future global health threats. The first set of executive orders by Biden were thus to undo and reverse the isolationist and egoistic policy actions in which America under Trump, unilaterally withdrew from a number of global commitments including the Paris climate agreement, World Health Organization (WHO), UN Human Rights Council, Iran nuclear deal, Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, Open Skies Treaty, and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). .
The African Union welcomed the US return to the WHO & COVAX. This act is viewed as crucial for the global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and other future infections. The US has been a member of the UN’s global health organisation since 1948, rising to become the biggest donor of the organisation with an annual contribution of about $400 million. About 76 percent of this was voluntary funding which went to programmes such as health security, polio, primary health care and maternal child health
Additionally, the US is expected to return to its traditional bilateral and multilateral diplomatic engagements and preoccupations of economic development, human rights, anti-terrorism, and competition with China. But the Biden administration will encounter a different continent from that of the Obama years, one that has diversified its developmental partnerships and learnt to live without meaningful engagement with the departing Trump administration and now demands more respect. It is a Continent whose economies have been ravaged by the Coronavirus pandemic and require productive and transformative relationships.
The Gender Factor in the US 2020 Elections
When the US Vice President- Kamala Harris- took the oath of office on January 20, 2021, she shattered more than one ceiling: America got it its first female vice president, as well as its first Black and South Asian-American vice president after 231 years. Harris also became the second in line for the most powerful political office in the world.
The symbolic importance of Harris’ ascent in the centuries-long story of America is undeniable. But just as important is what she could do in concrete terms for the country that just elected her. VP Harris carries powers both formal and implicit, and President Biden is expected to delegate a significant portfolio to the VP and give her a chance to shape policy as well as that sense of political possibility.
What lessons can we learn on the gender factor in US elections?
When one compares the US performance in facilitating gender equity and equality in electoral political governance with that of other Western Countries such as the Scandinavian countries, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc and the fact that it has taken the US 231 years to elect the first female VP, raises the question of the nature of US democracy, in respect to gender equity and equality.
Globally as of 29 November 2019,.there have been 87 countries that have or had women as elected or appointed heads of state or government(president or Prime Minister). Why doesn’t the US have an affirmative action law, to facilitate the increase of women in key decision-making positions?
The gender factor: Lesson for Kenya and Africa
Kenya is currently in a similar position as the US in respect to the women’s ascendance to the highest political office. However Kenya now has an opportunity to change this situation under the new negotiated mechanism for increasing women in political decision-making positions
[1] I wish to acknowledge with gratitude, the input to this article, of Drs. Patrick Maluki, Prof. Samuel Nyanchoga and Dr. Mumo Nzau.
