HSY3701
Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Unique number: 621129
Due Date: 23 March 2026
All topics answered
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC 1: FACTORS DRIVING FROM MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS TO VARIOUS
FORMS OF AUTHORITARIANISM IN AFRICA UNTIL THE 1970S. .............. 3
TOPIC 2: DECOLONIAL SOLUTIONS TO SOCIO-ECONOMIC DRIVERS OF
HIV AND AIDS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA .................................................. 8
TOPIC 3: AFRICAN UNION SHIFT FROM OAU AND DECOLONIAL
REFORMS FOR CONTINENTAL GOVERNANCE ...................................... 15
Terms of use
By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document as a guide for learning, comparison and reference purpose,
Terms of use
Not to duplicate, reproduce and/or misrepresent the contents of this document as your own work,
By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document
Fully accept the consequences
solely as a guide forshould you plagiarise
learning, reference,or and
misuse this document.
comparison purposes,
Ensure originality of your own work, and fully accept the consequences should you plagiarise or misuse this document.
Comply with all relevant standards, guidelines, regulations, and legislation governing academic and written work.
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is" without any express or
implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or liability for any actions taken based on the
information contained within this document. This document is intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes.
Reproduction, resale, or transmission of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
, +27 81 278 3372
All topics answered
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC 1: FACTORS DRIVING FROM MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS TO
VARIOUS FORMS OF AUTHORITARIANISM IN AFRICA UNTIL THE
1970S. ........................................................................................................... 3
TOPIC 2: DECOLONIAL SOLUTIONS TO SOCIO-ECONOMIC DRIVERS OF
HIV AND AIDS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA .................................................. 8
TOPIC 3: AFRICAN UNION SHIFT FROM OAU AND DECOLONIAL
REFORMS FOR CONTINENTAL GOVERNANCE ...................................... 15
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is"
without any express or implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or
liability for any actions taken based on the information contained within this document. This document is
intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes. Reproduction, resale, or transmission
of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
, +27 81 278 3372
TOPIC 1: FACTORS DRIVING FROM MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS TO VARIOUS FORMS
OF AUTHORITARIANISM IN AFRICA UNTIL THE 1970S.
1. Introduction
The end of colonial rule across Africa created high expectations of democracy, unity and
development. Yet, by the 1970s many new states shifted from multiparty competition to
one party systems, military rule, or personal dictatorships. This proposal investigates why
that shift happened and what decolonial solutions might address the underlying drivers of
authoritarianism. It focuses on weak postcolonial institutions, the growth of patronage and
personal rule, economic dependency, and the way Cold War politics shaped internal
power struggles (Nugent 2004). The study adopts a desktop research approach and uses
comparative examples from different regions to show how similar pressures produced
different forms of authoritarian outcomes.
1.1 Historical background
Colonial administrations were designed for extraction, control and limited political
participation. They centralised authority, relied on coercive policing, and often governed
through intermediaries who were accountable upward rather than to local communities
(Shillington 1995). At independence, African leaders inherited state structures that were
not built to manage democratic pluralism, competitive elections, or strong checks and
balances. Borders often grouped diverse communities into single political units, which
intensified struggles over belonging, access to land, and control of state resources
(Shillington 1995). The nationalist era also produced mass parties and liberation
movements that sometimes equated unity with single party dominance, making opposition
appear illegitimate or unpatriotic (Nugent 2004).
1.2 Rationale for the study
Academically, the topic is important because it explains a key political turning point in
modern African history and helps clarify why postcolonial governance took authoritarian
paths in many contexts. It also supports the module theme of African politics in the age of
independence by linking political change to economic and international forces (Manson
2010). At a broader level, the study is relevant because debates about democratisation,
accountability, and state legitimacy remain shaped by these post independence
experiences (Legum 1999).
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is"
without any express or implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or
liability for any actions taken based on the information contained within this document. This document is
intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes. Reproduction, resale, or transmission
of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Unique number: 621129
Due Date: 23 March 2026
All topics answered
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC 1: FACTORS DRIVING FROM MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS TO VARIOUS
FORMS OF AUTHORITARIANISM IN AFRICA UNTIL THE 1970S. .............. 3
TOPIC 2: DECOLONIAL SOLUTIONS TO SOCIO-ECONOMIC DRIVERS OF
HIV AND AIDS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA .................................................. 8
TOPIC 3: AFRICAN UNION SHIFT FROM OAU AND DECOLONIAL
REFORMS FOR CONTINENTAL GOVERNANCE ...................................... 15
Terms of use
By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document as a guide for learning, comparison and reference purpose,
Terms of use
Not to duplicate, reproduce and/or misrepresent the contents of this document as your own work,
By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document
Fully accept the consequences
solely as a guide forshould you plagiarise
learning, reference,or and
misuse this document.
comparison purposes,
Ensure originality of your own work, and fully accept the consequences should you plagiarise or misuse this document.
Comply with all relevant standards, guidelines, regulations, and legislation governing academic and written work.
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is" without any express or
implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or liability for any actions taken based on the
information contained within this document. This document is intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes.
Reproduction, resale, or transmission of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
, +27 81 278 3372
All topics answered
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC 1: FACTORS DRIVING FROM MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS TO
VARIOUS FORMS OF AUTHORITARIANISM IN AFRICA UNTIL THE
1970S. ........................................................................................................... 3
TOPIC 2: DECOLONIAL SOLUTIONS TO SOCIO-ECONOMIC DRIVERS OF
HIV AND AIDS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA .................................................. 8
TOPIC 3: AFRICAN UNION SHIFT FROM OAU AND DECOLONIAL
REFORMS FOR CONTINENTAL GOVERNANCE ...................................... 15
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is"
without any express or implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or
liability for any actions taken based on the information contained within this document. This document is
intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes. Reproduction, resale, or transmission
of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
, +27 81 278 3372
TOPIC 1: FACTORS DRIVING FROM MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS TO VARIOUS FORMS
OF AUTHORITARIANISM IN AFRICA UNTIL THE 1970S.
1. Introduction
The end of colonial rule across Africa created high expectations of democracy, unity and
development. Yet, by the 1970s many new states shifted from multiparty competition to
one party systems, military rule, or personal dictatorships. This proposal investigates why
that shift happened and what decolonial solutions might address the underlying drivers of
authoritarianism. It focuses on weak postcolonial institutions, the growth of patronage and
personal rule, economic dependency, and the way Cold War politics shaped internal
power struggles (Nugent 2004). The study adopts a desktop research approach and uses
comparative examples from different regions to show how similar pressures produced
different forms of authoritarian outcomes.
1.1 Historical background
Colonial administrations were designed for extraction, control and limited political
participation. They centralised authority, relied on coercive policing, and often governed
through intermediaries who were accountable upward rather than to local communities
(Shillington 1995). At independence, African leaders inherited state structures that were
not built to manage democratic pluralism, competitive elections, or strong checks and
balances. Borders often grouped diverse communities into single political units, which
intensified struggles over belonging, access to land, and control of state resources
(Shillington 1995). The nationalist era also produced mass parties and liberation
movements that sometimes equated unity with single party dominance, making opposition
appear illegitimate or unpatriotic (Nugent 2004).
1.2 Rationale for the study
Academically, the topic is important because it explains a key political turning point in
modern African history and helps clarify why postcolonial governance took authoritarian
paths in many contexts. It also supports the module theme of African politics in the age of
independence by linking political change to economic and international forces (Manson
2010). At a broader level, the study is relevant because debates about democratisation,
accountability, and state legitimacy remain shaped by these post independence
experiences (Legum 1999).
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is"
without any express or implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or
liability for any actions taken based on the information contained within this document. This document is
intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes. Reproduction, resale, or transmission
of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
