approve one of the three non-democratic governments and reject two of them; and, 68% of the respondents have shown rejection of all three non-democratic alternatives. So, it can be concluded that most students reject non-democratic alternatives and prefer democratic government in Tanzania.
5.3.4 Other measures of students’ support for democracy over non-democratic government
Other indicators of students’ support for democracy included support for electoral democracy, multi-partyism, and giving the regime more time. These were measured using contradictory statements (where students were expected to agree with one statement and to disagree with the other statement). In Figure 5.4 it shows that 90% of students show commitment to regular, open and honest elections (even though they perceive the elections in their country as flawed); however, when the question involves an implicit evaluation of the current operation of elections, about 40% would consider also another way of choosing political leaders. This is further explained because so many students are not satisfied with the working of democracy in Tanzania. About 40% agree and another 40% disagree that there should be other methods for choosing political leaders. In other words, the findings again indicate that students demand more open and honest elections since they are not pleased with the way democracy (and especially elections) operate currently in Tanzania.
Figure 5.5: Student demand for electoral democracy
N=400 Missing “regular, open, honest election”=19; “other methods”=22 Secondly, indicators compared “students’ preference for multi
“rejecting multiparty politics because they create confusion”. Figure 5.5 (below) shows that 67% of students prefer many political parties
with the notion that “many political parties create confusion
The responses to these two statements indicate that students really demand democracy and are aware of the other options (which they do no
demand democracy and they are ready to follow what it takes to be democrats.
Figure 5.6: Student demand for multi
N=400 Missing “multiparty system”=23; “confusion”=27
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
We should choose leaders through regular,open and honest
election 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Multiparty system allow people have real choice for who to
govern them
Figure 5.5: Student demand for electoral democracy
0 Missing “regular, open, honest election”=19; “other methods”=22
Secondly, indicators compared “students’ preference for multi-party elections” against those “rejecting multiparty politics because they create confusion”. Figure 5.5 (below) shows that prefer many political parties; and at the same time disagree/strongly disagree
many political parties create confusion” (61% rejected that statement)
The responses to these two statements indicate that students really demand democracy and are aware of the other options (which they do not support). Students indicate how they demand democracy and they are ready to follow what it takes to be democrats.
Student demand for multi-partyism
Missing “multiparty system”=23; “confusion”=27
We should choose leaders through regular,open and honest
We should have other methods for choosing political leaders
Strongly disagree Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree Agree
Strongly agree
Multiparty system allow people have real choice for who to
Politcal parties create confusion so they are unnecessary
Strongly disagree Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree Agree
Strongly agree
92
party elections” against those “rejecting multiparty politics because they create confusion”. Figure 5.5 (below) shows that sagree/strongly disagree rejected that statement). The responses to these two statements indicate that students really demand democracy and t support). Students indicate how they demand democracy and they are ready to follow what it takes to be democrats.
Strongly disagree Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Strongly agree
Strongly disagree Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly agree
These findings again confirm
about the way it operates. Figure 5.4 be regular, open and honest elections in
Figure 5.5 which also shows a high level of support for multiparty democracy. Over two thirds agree that multiparty elections allow people to have real choices of who should govern them, and accordingly close to
confusion.
Figure 5.7: Students’ willingness to give regime more time
N=400 Missing “give more time”=31; “try another form”=31
Considering the levels of support for democracy in relation to earlier findings about satisfaction with the current regime, it is therefore not surprisin
ambiguity as to whether the current political system should be given more time or whether Tanzania should try another system of government. Figure 5.6 shows that over 30% of students neither agree nor disagree whether the current government should be given more time to deal with problems. Against that, about 42% agree/strongly agree that if the present system does not produce results, it would be better to try another one (as against 30% who reject that idea and almost 30% who are undecided). Here, students are
whether the elected government
proportion agrees that there should be changes in the system the same political party has dominat
system (indeed since independence)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Present system should give time to elected government to
deal with inherited problems
again confirm that students support democracy, but seemingly
. Figure 5.4 shows that 90% agree/strongly agree that there should
elections in a democratic state; which is further corroborated in
which also shows a high level of support for multiparty democracy. Over two thirds agree that multiparty elections allow people to have real choices of who should govern
and accordingly close to two-thirds disagree that having many political parties
willingness to give regime more time
Missing “give more time”=31; “try another form”=31
Considering the levels of support for democracy in relation to earlier findings about
regime, it is therefore not surprising that there is considerable
the current political system should be given more time or whether Tanzania should try another system of government. Figure 5.6 shows that over 30% of agree nor disagree whether the current government should be given more time to deal with problems. Against that, about 42% agree/strongly agree that if the present system does not produce results, it would be better to try another one (as against 30% who reject that idea and almost 30% who are undecided). Here, students are
elected government should be given time to deal with problems. there should be changes in the system if it does not work.
dominated politics since the establishment of multiparty political
system (indeed since independence), leaving other opposition political parties weak
Present system should give time to elected government to
deal with inherited problems
Present system does not produce, we try another form
Strongly disagree Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree Agree
Strongly agree
93
seemingly have doubts shows that 90% agree/strongly agree that there should a democratic state; which is further corroborated in which also shows a high level of support for multiparty democracy. Over two- thirds agree that multiparty elections allow people to have real choices of who should govern
political parties creates
Considering the levels of support for democracy in relation to earlier findings about that there is considerable the current political system should be given more time or whether Tanzania should try another system of government. Figure 5.6 shows that over 30% of agree nor disagree whether the current government should be given more time to deal with problems. Against that, about 42% agree/strongly agree that if the present system does not produce results, it would be better to try another one (as against 30% who
reject that idea and almost 30% who are undecided). Here, students are uncertain as to
to deal with problems. A considerable
does not work. In Tanzania
politics since the establishment of multiparty political leaving other opposition political parties weak. It is
Strongly disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Strongly agree
94
possible therefore that students’ wish for changes may be seen as a wish for a change of ruling party.
Apart from supporting democracy, students are also seen to reject non-democratic rule, which further underpins their commitment to democracy. The rejection of non-democratic rule is measured by three questions, i.e. rejection of one-party rule, military rule and presidential/strong man dictatorship.
It is found that four-fifths disapprove/strongly disapprove with allowing only one political party to stand for election and hold office (i.e. 81%; N valid=369); over three-quarters (77%; N valid=353) rejected military rule; and a great majority reject presidential/strong man rule as a replacement for election and parliament (89% disapprove/strongly disapprove of strong man rule; N valid=348).
In summary, it is clear that the majority of students show great support for democracy and reject non-democratic alternatives; but at the same time there is also evidence that many students want change in how democracy and the current government operates in Tanzania. Students clearly understand the meaning of democracy and the majority prefers ‘popular participation’ as a way of conceptualising democracy. When given a list of various kinds of potentially essential features of democracy, students continue to be slightly more inclined towards procedural rather than substantive understandings of democracy.
Moreover, students show commitment to democracy by rejecting all forms of non-democratic alternatives offered to them. (The same also holds for the analysis of student support for student representation at university level of decision making.) Hence, I do not reject my hypothesis that students have more support for democracy than its non-democratic alternatives. However, considering student support in relation to satisfaction with regime performance, it shows that students are clearly ambiguous regarding the question as to whether the present system should be given more time to deal with inherited problems. Thus the commitment to the idea of democracy and dissatisfaction within Tanzanian ‘hybrid’ democracy produces a high level of ambiguity towards the current political system.