Democratic Renewal in Africa ― Trends and Discourses

From the late 1980s to the early years of the twenty-first century, African politics were defined by a concerted struggle for democratization and the clamor for good governance. Motivated and legitimized by the bitter experiences of structural adjustment programs and entrenched, repressive regimes, these democratic struggles triggered constitutional reforms, elections, new civil freedoms, and a variety of other forms of political progress. Yet the scope and success of these reforms have varied widely among different nations, and some scholars have even argued that responsible governance and democratic progress have even contracted in the intervening two decades. This comprehensive volume provides both retrospective and forward-looking perspectives on the current state of democracy and governance across the African continent. Synthesizing the latest research the various nation-level democratization initiatives, it offers an invaluable survey of this latest chapter in Africa's postcolonial history.

Said Adejumobi is Director of the Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.