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Megatrends between Democratization and Autocratization

Megatrends will shape political authority in Africa for the foreseeable future. The continent's societies are becoming younger, larger, more digital and more urban. They need to adapt to the effects of climate change, placing new demands on their states and governments. Established elites and political systems are coming under pressure from social movements. These processes of change can promote democratic structures, but also autocratic tendencies. At present, the latter is the dominant trend in many states around the world. The majority of African countries can be classified as electoral or closed autocracies. Our research examines the conditions under which megatrends have an impact in either direction.