IMPLICATIONS OF HANNAH ARENDT’S AGONISM FOR MODERN DEMOCRACY: A CASE OF NIGERIA’S ELECTORAL PROCESSES

Abstract

This essay discusses the implications of Hanna Arendt’s agonistic spirit for modern democracy in the light of Nigeria’s electoral processes. It claims that while Modern democratic experience of the Twenty-rst Century in most nation states is tremendously driven by public spheres, the contest is characterized by agonal spirit. The impacts of the public spares and agonal spirit accomplished transformation of the social and political lives of the citizenry through good leaders. Generally conceived, a public sphere is an arena in social life where individuals can assemble to discuss issues and to identify societal problems and through that discussion inuence political action. In modern society, it can be seen as a theatre in which political participation is enacted through the medium of talk and social participation in which public opinion can be formed. While the public sphere in the contemporary Nigerian society is heightened, consolidated and complemented by the use of the social media where public opinion could be expressed to a global coverage, the agonal spirit is characterized by fraudulent electoral practices. The paper argues and upholds with Benhabib that whereas the public spere is inclusive, and hence democratic, candidacy and contest for public ofces should be agonistic. It maintains that agonism is at odds with the culture of fraudulent electoral practices in Nigeria. It recommends measures that will checkmate the problem of electioneering and electoral fraud thereby strengthening the nascent democracy though, not without the political will of the Independent Electoral Commission that must make itself credible to gain the condence of the electorates and the competitors.