Although most universities established by African are based on western
models, African states in general have experienced a crisis of democracy.
Political leaders have paid lip service to freedom and democracy, but Africa
has, in general, been characterised by authoritarian regimes and lack of
freedom. Despite the shift by many African states from one-party systems to
multi-party democracy, on the whole a culture of democracy and freedom
cannot be said to have developed. If it is true that the indivisibility of human
freedom means that autonomy and academic freedom thrive only in a free and
democratic society, it is clear that most of the African states cannot be
expected to be defenders of university autonomy and academic freedom. What
does this imply?