The Fate Of Africa's Democratic Experiments

Does Western-style democracy make sense in the various geographic, economic, and social settings of the continent? How far toward democracy have recent liberalization movements gone? In The Fate of Africa’s Democratic Experiments, Leonardo A. Villalon, Peter VonDoepp, and an international group of contributors consider the aftermath, success, failure, and future of the wave of democracy that swept Africa in the early 1990s. In some countries, democratic movements flourished, while in others, democratic success was more circumscribed. This detailed analysis of key political events in countries at the forefront of democratic change—Benin, Central African Republic, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, and Zambia—provides for broadly representative continental and linguistic coverage of directions and prospects for Africa’s democracies.

The contributors are Michael Chege, John F. Clark, Joshua B. Forrest, Abdourahmane Idrissa, Bruce Magnusson, Carrie Manning, Richard R. Marcus, Andreas Mehler, David J. Simon, Leonardo A. Villalon, and Peter VonDoepp.

Leonardo A. Villalon is Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the African Studies Center at the University of Florida.

Peter VonDoepp is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of North Texas.