Call for Papers

Consensual Democracy in Africa: Questions of Plausibility, Prospects, and Challenges

In conjunction with the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy (RVP), we are inviting contributions to a research project (a book) on the plausibility, prospects and challenges of consensual democracy under the general theme “Re-Learning to be Human for Global Times: Challenges and Opportunities.” This is the first formal programme to respond Kwasi Wiredu’s plea for democracy by consensus.

Kwasi Wiredu argues that majoritarianism is fundamentally flawed, and consensual democracy is more consistent with the communal ideal of the political organization of many traditional societies in Africa. He projects that this idea as a democratic ideal may refresh our political experiment in an age when the polarizing effects of majoritarianism are notable.

This is an invitation to scholars who are interested in this theme and would like to contribute a chapter on the following issues:

1. The Concept of Consensus

Ø  What is the concept of consensus and its ramifications?

Ø  To compare and contrast consensus and majority voting as group decisional rules

Ø  To agree on action versus values

Ø  The concept of the minority veto

2. Questions about Plausibility

Ø  Is majoritarianism fundamentally flawed?

Ø  Is consensus a viable framework for democracy?

3. The Political Structure of a possible consensual democracy

Ø  What would be the structural and operational framework of a consensual democracy?

Ø  To Compare and contrast non-party versus multiparty frameworks of democracy

Ø  What are areas of possibilities for consensual deliberation in governance and public administration, and others?

4. Consensus, culture, and society

Ø  Consensus, communitarianism and liberalism

Ø  Communitarianism and the identity of interests

Contributors are free to submit chapters in more than one section. The followings are the working deadlines:

Submission of abstracts: July 30, 2017

Submission of full chapters: December 15, 2017

Review and editorial decision: February 15, 2018

Submission of revision: March 30, 2018

Press: April 10, 2018

The research result will be published by the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy (RVP) in its publication series “Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change” (over 300 volumes, see www.crvp.org).

Authors on special invitation:

Dr. Kibujjo Kalumba, Ball State University, USA

Dr. Bernard Matolino, University of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Dr. Edwin Etieyibo, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa