Correcting Liberal Democracy With Neo-communitarian Democracy: a New Framework for Governance
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Liberal democracy has long been regarded as the pinnacle of democratic governance, prioritizing individual rights, free markets, and representative institutions. However, its increasing challenges - including political polarization, disengaged citizenry, and a deepening focus on individualism at the expense of community welfare have raised questions about its long-term viability. A major question that this paper poses to unravel is why has liberal democracy that works in Western Europe failed to work in Africa? The paper, using theoretical analysis combined with comparative conceptual evaluation proposes Neo-Communitarian Democracy as an alternative model to correct the inherent flaws of liberal democracy. Grounded in the principles of civic engagement, social responsibility, and communal governance, Neo-Communitarian Democracy offers a more balanced approach that integrates individual freedoms with collective welfare. This article critically examines liberal democracy's shortcomings and presents a theoretical framework for Neo-Communitarian Democracy, drawing on both historical examples and contemporary case studies. Article visualizations:
Author: Olatunji Olateju
Institution: Achievers University
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4413851399