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Democratization in Africa

Progress and Retreat

edited by Larry Diamond and Marc F. Plattner

second edition
Publication Date
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At a time when democracy seems to be in retreat in many parts of the world, Africa presents a more mixed picture. A number of African countries have been convulsed by high-profile crises, while others have quietly continued making progress on the difficult path toward democratic stability.

Democratization in Africa: Progress and Retreat brings into focus the complex landscape of African politics by pairing broad analytical surveys with country-specific case studies—most previously published in the Journal of Democracy and all written by prominent Africanists with deep knowledge of the continent...

At a time when democracy seems to be in retreat in many parts of the world, Africa presents a more mixed picture. A number of African countries have been convulsed by high-profile crises, while others have quietly continued making progress on the difficult path toward democratic stability.

Democratization in Africa: Progress and Retreat brings into focus the complex landscape of African politics by pairing broad analytical surveys with country-specific case studies—most previously published in the Journal of Democracy and all written by prominent Africanists with deep knowledge of the continent and their subject countries.

Thematic chapters address some of the major forces working for and against African democracy: the phenomenon of "frontier Africa"; presidentialism; the rise of independent legislatures; the rule of law versus the "big man"; the institutionalization of political power; the decline of military coups; the paradox of growth without prosperity; and the roles of formal and informal institutions. Countries examined include Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somaliland, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Democratization in Africa: Progress and Retreat is an essential primer for students of African politics and those interested in the future of democracy around the world.

Contributors: Kate Baldwin, Joel D. Barkan, Michael Bratton, Michael Chege, John F. Clark, Larry Diamond, Steven Friedman, Kenneth Good, E. Gyimah-Boadi, Barak Hoffman, Richard Joseph, Seth Kaplan, Maina Kiai, Peter Lewis, Eldred Masunungure, Penda Mbow, Andrew M. Mwenda, Dave Peterson, Daniel N. Posner, H. Kwasi Prempeh, Lindsay Robinson, Paula Cristina Roque, Rotimi T. Suberu, Herbert F. Weiss, Christopher Wyrod, Daniel J. Young

Reviews

Reviews

The collection is representative of African politics and will serve the needs of faculty, especially for undergraduate courses.

Given its broad sweep of anglophone Africa, highly readable style, balanced perspectives, and penetrating analysis, this volume represents an important contribution to the field and a valuable resource for students wishing to comprehend the seemingly contradictory outcomes associated with African democratisation.

Rich accounts of democracy's progress and retreat in Africa.

[An] excellent collection.

About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
6
x
9
Pages
392
ISBN
9780801894848
Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part I: Progress and Retreat in Africa
Chapter 1. Challenges of a "Frontier" Region
Chapter 2. Presidents Untamed
Chapter 3. Legislatures on the Rise?
Chapter 4. The Rule of

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part I: Progress and Retreat in Africa
Chapter 1. Challenges of a "Frontier" Region
Chapter 2. Presidents Untamed
Chapter 3. Legislatures on the Rise?
Chapter 4. The Rule of Law versus the Big Man
Chapter 5. The Institutionalization of Political Power in Africa
Chapter 6. The Decline of the African Military Coup
Chapter 7. Growth Without Prosperity in Africa
Chapter 8. Formal versus Informal Institutions in Africa
Part II: West Africa
Chapter 9. Nigeria's Muddled Elections
Chapter 10. Another Step Forward for Ghana
Chapter 11. Senegal: The Return of Personalism
Chapter 12. Sierra Leone: A Vote for Better Governance
Chapter 13. Liberia Starts Over
Part III: East Africa
Chapter 14. Kenya: Back from the Brink?
Chapter 15. The Crisis in Kenya
Chapter 16. Tanzania's Missing Opposition
Chapter 17. Personalizing Power in Uganda
Chapter 18. The Remarkable Story of Somaliland
Part IV: Southern and Central Africa
Chapter 19. An Accidental Advance? South Africa's 2009 Elections
Chapter 20. The Illusion of Democracy in Botswana
Chapter 21. Zambia: One Party in Perpetuity?
Chapter 22. Voting for Change in the DRC
Chapter 23. Angola's Façade Democracy
Chapter 24. Zimbabwe's Long Agony
Index

Author Bios
Featured Contributor

Larry Diamond

Larry Diamond is coeditor of the Journal of Democracy, codirector of the International Forum for Democratic Studies, and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution.
Featured Contributor

Marc F. Plattner

Marc F. Plattner is vice president for research and studies at the National Endowment for Democracy. Plattner and Diamond are coeditors of the Journal of Democracy.