Why did the West refuse to preach about Democracy in Afica during the Cold War?

(My answer on Quora)

I am not sure what you mean by the phrase ‘preaching democracy’ Talking about democracy is irrelevant if the conditions aren’t right and the local leadership is unwilling to let go of their newly acquired powers.

It was during the Cold War, specifically the time frame from the 1950s to 1975, that the majority of African countries won their independence from the respective European countries that had administrated the various colonial governments.

Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast) was the first African country to gain independence from Great Britain (in 1957). All British colonies - with the temporary exception of Southern Rhodesia - would follow in its path over the next thirteen years in a policy shift outlined by British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in his famous “Winds of Change” speech (Delivered in Cape Town South Africa Feb 1960).

African countries with Independence Dates: Source: Exploring Africa Michigan State University

The former French colonies followed a similar albeit more turbulent march toward independence (with Algeria being exceptionally violent). Belgium and Portugal would withdraw from their respective African holdings as well but not before a significant degree of conflict between the various nationalist movements and the colonial power was realized. In many a case the various nationalist movements battled each other with differences arising over ideology, economics and ethnic identity.

By 1980 the period of European political withdrawal from Africa was largely complete. Rhodesia was now Zimbabwe.

However the situation was far from well. The overriding issue was that the various movements that took control of these post independent fledgling nations came to power under a banner of nationally stoked populism that they would later entrench to thwart opposition. Free Democratic elections for many of these African strongmen was anathema to their own ambitions. Democracy was strangled in its infancy.

It was also of no benefit to the democratic impetus that independence became a reality for most of these countries during the height of the Cold War. Africa as a continent is extremely rich in minerals and both the Soviet Union and the United States needed to secure access to these resources. Former colonial powers Britain and France were also loathe to forgo their economic interests in the region. China itself exploited various opportunities.

Some of Africa’s post Independent dictators. Daily Advent Nigeria

The result was that various strongmen were given their blessing or indeed actively propped up by the external players. The continent provided the framework where a significant amount of Cold war jostling for power would take place.

What no player could afford was a regime change that had the potential to rip the rug from their convenient zone of influence. The strongmen kept that rug in place. Democracy had the potential to flip the order on its side. The Western powers gave lip service to it but in reality there was far too much at stake in the Cold War. The Soviets were aggressive in following all opportunities that were presented to them and would have exploited a weak democracy to entrench its power.

Realpolitik took precedence over idealism.