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Author: Samuel Ebow Quainoo
Publisher: Global Academic Publishing
ISBN: 9781586840402
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 176
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Book Description
What conditions motivate a transition to democracy? Can the dynamics of a transition influence its outcome? Under what circumstances has democracy been consolidated in Africa? This trilogy of questions has become necessary in light of the current democratic wave engulfing Africa and the rest of the world. In examining the conditions that initiate democratic transitions, this book investigates the circumstances under which democracy movements have operated between 1980 and 1990. It concludes that, contrary to dominant democratic theory, the transitions to democracy in Africa have occurred under declining levels of development. With regard to transitions, the book recognizes that they have their own dynamics. Two main types of transitions are discerned: top-down and bottom-up. The book argues that in spite of the restrictive nature of top-down transitions, they offer a better opportunity for democratic consolidation because of the consensus between elites of the pro-democracy regime and their counterparts in the authoritarian regime, a condition that is normally absent under bottom-up transitions. Finally, relying on the cases of consolidated democracies, the book derives an African democracy model. The model delineates five main conditions that facilitate democratic consolidation, including good leadership, relevant political institutions, external support, civic space, and a reasonable level of development. It cautions, however, that these are not sufficient conditions, nor are all of them necessary. Since countries have unique historical circumstances, specific countries will have to combine conditions in the model that are relevant to that society to consolidate its democracy. The right combination will depend on the specific needs of the individual country.
Author: Samuel Ebow Quainoo
Publisher: Global Academic Publishing
ISBN: 9781586840402
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 176
Get Book Here
Book Description
What conditions motivate a transition to democracy? Can the dynamics of a transition influence its outcome? Under what circumstances has democracy been consolidated in Africa? This trilogy of questions has become necessary in light of the current democratic wave engulfing Africa and the rest of the world. In examining the conditions that initiate democratic transitions, this book investigates the circumstances under which democracy movements have operated between 1980 and 1990. It concludes that, contrary to dominant democratic theory, the transitions to democracy in Africa have occurred under declining levels of development. With regard to transitions, the book recognizes that they have their own dynamics. Two main types of transitions are discerned: top-down and bottom-up. The book argues that in spite of the restrictive nature of top-down transitions, they offer a better opportunity for democratic consolidation because of the consensus between elites of the pro-democracy regime and their counterparts in the authoritarian regime, a condition that is normally absent under bottom-up transitions. Finally, relying on the cases of consolidated democracies, the book derives an African democracy model. The model delineates five main conditions that facilitate democratic consolidation, including good leadership, relevant political institutions, external support, civic space, and a reasonable level of development. It cautions, however, that these are not sufficient conditions, nor are all of them necessary. Since countries have unique historical circumstances, specific countries will have to combine conditions in the model that are relevant to that society to consolidate its democracy. The right combination will depend on the specific needs of the individual country.
Author: Hussein Solomon
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 135175128X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 331
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Book Description
This title was first published in 2000: The continent of Africa is undergoing great change. While on the one hand there is talk of a re-awakening of Africa or Renaissance various countries in Africa are still plagued by poverty, intra- and interstate violence. In some countries the legacy of neo-colonialism and under development contributed to social strife and the potential criminalization of the State. This book addresses the topic of democratization and sustainable democracy in Africa against this background.
Author: Nic Cheeseman
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1316239489
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 269
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Book Description
This book provides the first comprehensive overview of the history of democracy in Africa and explains why the continent's democratic experiments have so often failed, as well as how they could succeed. Nic Cheeseman grapples with some of the most important questions facing Africa and democracy today, including whether international actors should try and promote democracy abroad, how to design political systems that manage ethnic diversity, and why democratic governments often make bad policy decisions. Beginning in the colonial period with the introduction of multi-party elections and ending in 2013 with the collapse of democracy in Mali and South Sudan, the book describes the rise of authoritarian states in the 1970s; the attempts of trade unions and some religious groups to check the abuse of power in the 1980s; the remarkable return of multiparty politics in the 1990s; and finally, the tragic tendency for elections to exacerbate corruption and violence.
Author: Muna Ndulo
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781443885478
Category : Africa south of Sahara
Languages : en
Pages : 0
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Book Description
Revisiting the Study of Governance / Göran Hyden -- Democratisation in Africa : Achievements and Agenda / Mamoudou Gazibo -- The Expansion of Judicial Power in Africa and Democratic Consolidation : Opportunities, Challenges and Future Prospects / Charles M. Fombad -- Constitution-Making in Anglophone Africa : We the People? / Coel Kirkby and Christina Murray -- Measuring the Persuasive Effects of Electoral Campaigns in Africa / Jeffrey Conroy-Krutz -- Subnational Elections and Accountability : A Study of Political Decentralization and Democratic Governance / Rachel Beatty Riedl and J. Tyler Dickovick -- Slippery Citizenship : Nationalism, Democracy and the State in Africa / Jennifer Riggan -- Federal Developments and Accountable Government Structures in East Africa / Jan Amilcar Schmidt -- Hereditary Rule in Democratic Africa : Reconciling Citizens and Chiefs / Kate Baldwin -- Critical Reflections on Social Accountability and Local Government in Ghana / Cyril K. Daddieh -- "Emerging" Africa : Long-term Perspectives on Growth and Democracy / Antoinette Handley -- A Legal Framework for Combating Corruption : Case Study from Zambia / Muna Ndulo -- Two-and-a-Half Cheers for Democracy in Africa / Nicolas van de Walle.
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309047978
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 94
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Book Description
The global movement toward democracy, spurred in part by the ending of the cold war, has created opportunities for democratization not only in Europe and the former Soviet Union, but also in Africa. This book is based on workshops held in Benin, Ethiopia, and Namibia to better understand the dynamics of contemporary democratic movements in Africa. Key issues in the democratization process range from its institutional and political requirements to specific problems such as ethnic conflict, corruption, and role of donors in promoting democracy. By focusing on the opinion and views of African intellectuals, academics, writers, and political activists and observers, the book provides a unique perspective regarding the dynamics and problems of democratization in Africa.
Author: Jaimie Bleck
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108680623
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages :
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Book Description
Democratic transitions in the early 1990s introduced a sea change in Sub-Saharan African politics. Between 1990 and 2015, several hundred competitive legislative and presidential elections were held in all but a handful of the region's countries. This book is the first comprehensive comparative analysis of the key issues, actors, and trends in these elections over the last quarter century. The book asks: what motivates African citizens to vote? What issues do candidates campaign on? How has the turn to regular elections promoted greater democracy? Has regular electoral competition made a difference for the welfare of citizens? The authors argue that regular elections have both caused significant changes in African politics and been influenced in turn by a rapidly changing continent - even if few of the political systems that now convene elections can be considered democratic, and even if many old features of African politics persist.
Author: John-Paul Safunu Banchani
Publisher: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing
ISBN: 9783659186813
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 76
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Book Description
Weak governance institutions and bad governance practices have always undermined Africa's quest to consolidate her democratic gains and development. The African Peer Review Mechanism, a self monitoring mechanism, established by African Union members to ensure that the policies and practices of participating countries conform to the agreed political, economic, and corporate governance codes, standards, and values contained in the New Partnership for Africa's Development declaration on Democracy, Good Political, Economic and Corporate Governance have contributed in consolidating democracy and good governance in Ghana through the widening of the political space for civil society groups and people at the grassroots to participate in the governance process. Since going through the first review, Ghana has taken measures to consolidate her democracy and is now widely regarded as one of the most democratic countries in Africa. Using a variety of data sources, this study sets out to identify the conditions necessary for the consolidation of democracy in Africa. It also identifies some governance institutions that are critical in democratic consolidation. The broad focus is on Ghana.
Author: Richard A. Joseph
Publisher: Lynne Rienner Pub
ISBN: 9781555875336
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 527
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Book Description
This volume explores the important dimensions of state formation and erosion, social conflict, and the gains and setbacks of democratization in contemporary Africa. It looks at the dominant patterns of political restructuring since the upheavals of the early 1990s.
Author: J. Shola Omotola
Publisher: Nordic Africa Institute
ISBN: 9789171067111
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 49
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Book Description
This Discussion Paper is based on a conceptual and analytical reading of cases of unconstitutional change of government in Africa. It provides a deep and up-to-date exploration of the prospects for democratic consolidation on the continent against the backdrop of an upsurge in unconstitutional changes of government. Rather than focus only on the internal threats to democracy in Africa, the author also analyses the role of neighbouring states, regional organisations and hegemonic forces within the international community in advancing or limiting democracy. In this regard, this work sheds light on why the pursuit of the liberal democratic project in Africa has so far appeared to alienate ordinary people, while providing space for dominant elites to tamper with democratic institutions and processes, which then work against popular participation and democratic development. This paper is essential reading for scholars, policy practitioners, analysts and all those with an interest in the prospects for democracy in Africa.
Author: J. Kraus
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 023061003X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 305
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Book Description
In this book, top scholars look at the efficacy of trade union and worker protest in overthrowing authoritarian governments in Africa. The analytical introduction and case studies from major African countries argue that unions were often the most important single social force in the democratization process.
