From Political Contestation to Governance Crisis: Conflictual Political Culture and Its Consequences for Cameroon’s Democratic Development

Abstract

Cameroon’s transition to multiparty politics has expanded formal opportunities for political participation, yet democratic consolidation continues to be constrained by persistent political tensions, institutional mistrust, exclusion, identity-related grievances, and weaknesses in the management of political disagreement. This study examined the characteristics and manifestations of conflictual political culture in Cameroon, assessed its consequences for democratic consolidation, and identified institutional and political reforms capable of promoting a more consensual and inclusive democratic culture. The study adopted a qualitative case-study design based on documentary analysis and ten semi-structured key informant interviews with participants drawn from academic, political, civil-society, legal, media, governance, human-rights, and peacebuilding backgrounds. Data were analysed thematically according to the study’s three research questions. Findings revealed that conflictual political culture manifested through political intolerance, institutional mistrust, exclusion, identity-based mobilisation, and coercive management of political contestation. These practices weakened institutional legitimacy, meaningful political participation, accountability, political pluralism, civic space, and peaceful conflict resolution, thereby constraining democratic consolidation. The study concluded that conflictual political culture and weak institutional performance were mutually reinforcing. It therefore recommends strengthening institutional credibility, meaningful decentralisation, political inclusion, institutionalised dialogue, civic and political freedoms, democratic accountability, civic education, and a political culture of tolerance and compromise.