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Human Rights in Sub Saharan Africa: Understanding the Influence Of Militarisation, Governance and Democracy

Author

Listed:
  • Chimere Iheonu

    (Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa)

  • Shedrach Agbutun

    (Department of Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka)

  • Chinedum Chiemela

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka)

Abstract

This study examined the impact of militarisation, governance, and democracy on human rights in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for the period 2002 to 2018. The study employed the instrumental variable Fixed Effects model to account for simultaneity/reverse causality, and country-specific unobservable heterogeneity as well as the instrumental variable quantile regression with Fixed Effects to account for existing levels of human rights in SSA. Based on the Fixed Effects results, it is revealed that militarisation significantly increases human rights violation in the region, while governance and democracy significantly improve human rights. Results from the quantile regression show that (1) the negative impact of militarisation on human rights is observable across all quantiles, (2) the positive impact of the control of corruption on human rights is more pronounced in countries where the existing level of human rights is high, while political stability and rule of law exerts stronger impact on human rights in countries where the existing level of human rights are lower, (3) the positive impact of democracy on human rights is stronger in countries where the existing level of human rights is high. Policy recommendations based on these findings are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Chimere Iheonu & Shedrach Agbutun & Chinedum Chiemela, 2021. "Human Rights in Sub Saharan Africa: Understanding the Influence Of Militarisation, Governance and Democracy," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 41(3), pages 1070-1081.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-20-00880
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Militarisation; Governance; Democracy; Human Rights; Sub Saharan Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H1 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • C3 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables

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