Article,
Legislative Institutions and the Democratic Development: A Comparative Analysis of USA and Nigerian Democracies
Central Asian Journal of Social Sciences and History, 4 (9): 202-221 (September 2023)
Abstract
Democratic processes are often influenced by the robustness and efficacy of legislative institutions. While the USA boasts a long-standing democratic tradition, Nigeria, with its intermittent democratic journey since independence, presents a contrasting paradigm. The period from 2015-2023 witnessed significant global political shifts, which posed challenges to these democracies. An examination of how their legislative institutions responded to these challenges, and consequently impacted the democratic processes, becomes imperative. This research aims to provide a comparative analysis of the roles and impacts of legislative institutions in the development of democracy in the USA and Nigeria from 2015-2023. The paper was anchored on the structural functionalist theory—originally developed by sociologists including Emile Durkheim, Bronisław Malinowski, and Talcott Parsons. This study utilizes a qualitative research design. The study reveals that legislative institutions in both countries, despite their differences, faced challenges stemming from partisanship, global political shifts, and internal dynamics. While the USA's legislative challenges often revolved around ideological differences, Nigeria grappled with ethnoreligious and regional loyalties. Nevertheless, both countries' legislative bodies demonstrated resilience and adaptability, emphasizing the structural functionalist theory's assertion on the role of such structures in societal equilibrium. It is recommended that legislative institutions continually evolve in response to societal needs, ensuring they remain true to democratic principles. Cross-national legislative exchanges could also be fostered to share best practices and bolster democratic ideals.
