The Transition to Democratic Governance in Africa

Africa is currently experiencing sociopolitical and economic changes of unprecedented proportions. New leaders, institutions, discourses, and methods of political organization and action are shaping a new future. Through a case-study approach, this essay collection provides a comprehensive analysis of the history, trajectory, actors, institutions, contradictions, failures, and opportunities in contemporary efforts at democratization in Africa. While presenting the dynamics of democracy and democratization in several African countries, they also look at critical issues in Africa's transition projects from political parties and elections through constitutions and constitutionalism to new structures of power and politics. A provocative analysis for scholars, students, researchers, and policy makers involved with African political and economic development.

JOHN MUKUM MBAKU is Willard L. Eccles Professor of Economics and John S. Hinckley Fellow at Weber State University. Among his earlier books is Institutions and Reform in Africa: The Public Choice Perspective (Praeger, 1997). JULIUS OMOZUANVBO IHONVBERE is Professor of Government at the University of Texas, Austin.

List of Tables List of Contributors Acknowledgments Acronyms Introduction: Issues in Africa's Political Adjustment in the "New" Global Era by John Mukum Mbaku and Julis O. Ihonvbere A Balance Sheet of Africa's Transition to Democratic Governance by Julius O. Ihonvbere Globalization and Democratization in Africa: Problems and Prospects by Kelechi A. Kalu Economic Transformation and Governance in Africa: Strategies for Recovery, Growth, and Development by George B. N. Ayittey Constitutionalism and the Transition to Democratic Governance in Africa by John Mukum Mbaku Constitutions Without Constitutionalism? Toward a New Doctrine of Democratization in Africa by Julius O. Ihonvbere Keeping the African Military at Bay: Current Trends in Civil-Military Relations by Pita Ogaba Agbese Constitutionalism and the African Military: Contemporary Constitutional Strategies to Domesticate the African Military by Julius O. Ihonvbere Women and the Democratization Process in Africa by Felix K. Ekechi The Mass Media and Democratization in Africa: Lessons from Cameroon by Charles Manga Fombad Political Restructuring, Civil Society, and Governance in Africa: The Politics of Integrated Rural Development in Nigeria by Olufemi Vaughan Democracy, Human Rights and Democratization in Africa by Joseph Takougang Ethnicity and Democratization in Africa by Eghosa E. Osaghae Property Rights and Environmental Sustainability in Africa by John Mukum Mbaku Democracy, Public Policy, and the Intervention Imperative Towards HIV/AIDS in Africa by Kempe Ronald Hope Sr. In Search of Democratization Middle Grounds: Nigeria and South Africa in Perspective by Eghosa E. Osaghae The Opportunities and Limitations of Opposition Politics in Africa: The SDF and Opposition Alliances by Julius O. Ihonvbere, John Mukum Mbaku, and Joseph Takougang Africa in the 21st Century: Globalization and the Opportunities by Julius O. Ihonvbere and John Mukum Mbaku Selected Bibliography Index