Digital politics: internet and democracy in Africa

摘要: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between internet use and democracy in Africa. It examines non-linearities causality two variables short long run for 38 countries Africa.,The study empirical. uses pooled mean group tests sample African countries.,The panel long-run short-run estimates show evidence significant non-linear usage democracy. While significantly negatively related democracy, squared but positively related. This suggests that increases with decrease after a certain level which turning point, starts increase. Additionally, there uni-directional from However, bi-directional exists democracy.,The empirical are highly interrelated each other findings support at macro level, Africa moving toward new stage, where will lead improved levels digital politics.,Remarkably, shows displays quadratic usage. As whole, indicate U-shaped pattern: decreases usage, stabilizes, then increases. In words, increase.,Many Governments have frequently imposed restrictions on social media need stop. decline as may be explained by more severity these restrictions. politics.,Contrary previous conceptual papers, current empirically investigates countries.