Human Rights, Development and Democracy in the Age of Globalization: The Contradictions and Challenges, with Specific Reference to African Countries

Globalization is one of the leading characteristics of the world today – a world that is striving for development, democracy and the protection of human rights. There is no doubt that the relationship between globalization and democracy is quite complex. So too is the relationship between globalization and development. Moreover, the structural and institutional changes associated with globalization have a significant impact on the protection of human rights, particularly in the developing world. The impact of globalization on an already complex relationship between human rights, development and democracy is perhaps more prominent on the African continent than elsewhere in the world. This is due to the unique circumstances and peculiar challenges that African countries have faced in the recent past and continue to face in the present and immediate future. Such challenges include poverty, hunger and famine, armed conflicts, poor governance, crime, corruption, unemployment, low levels of education, lack of skills and resources, and the prevalence of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Besides reflecting on the impact of globalization on development, democratization and the protection of human rights, this paper explores the various contradictions that arise out of the relationship among these concepts. It also highlights the peculiar challenges that underlie and further complicate this relationship in the specific context of African countries.