Reframing US politics through African lenses: A cross-continental dialogue on electoral systems and political thought

For nearly a century, the study of African elections, democratization, and politics has predominantly been through the lens of US-based scholars and institutions. American liberal democracy and political systems have served as benchmarks for assessing political structures on the African continent. This influence has led many African nations to adopt American political ideas, at times even transforming the inherited British parliamentary system into an American-style presidential format. Despite the widespread adoption, there is a marked lack of scholarship driven by African perspectives on American political systems. This gap has occasionally led to difficulties in applying these systems effectively, resulting in frustration and dissatisfaction with their outcomes in Africa. Recently, the continent has seen growing discontent with electoral politics and liberal democracy, which have often failed to enhance citizens' welfare and security, sometimes giving rise to military and authoritarian regimes.

This Research Topic aims to explore and amplify African insights concerning US elections, democracy, and politics. By drawing on African perspectives, the objective is to critically analyze the strengths and weaknesses of American political ideas, their worldwide and regional appeal, and the potential challenges and opportunities they present for adoption in Africa. Specifically, we seek to understand how African scholars perceive American political thought, electoral processes, and major actors in the political landscape. The research intends to foster a better comprehension of how US political events might transpire if situated within the African context and explore the broader implications for the desirability, adaptation, and effectiveness of these ideas in Africa.

To gather further insights from African perspectives on American politics, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Examination of American political thought through African perspectives
- Comparative analysis of electoral processes and political actors
- Critical perspectives on the media and transparency in US politics
- Perspectives on the security challenges in adopting US political systems in Africa
- Evaluative studies on the operationalization and effectiveness of American political models in African contexts

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: African perspectives, US political systems, electoral processes, democratic adaptation, political thought, comparative politics

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.