Democracy in Africa: Successes, Failures, and the Struggle for Political Reform

by Nic Cheeseman

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.

Genres: Africa, Political Science, Politics

267 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 28, 2015

Reviews

[Sterling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good, updated summary of democracy in Africa and I would recommend it for those who are beginning to study the issues facing political transition throughout the continent. There were a few grammatical and factual errors throughout the book, something I am seeing more of from Cambridge University Press books.

[Charles Godfrey Kamukama · Rating 4 out of 5]

The greatest puzzle every peace loving person always ponders to fill, is why democracy in Africa has failed to mature! Cheeseman attempted to fill the puzzle by dissecting most of the democratic practices that have enabled some of the countries to mature more than others.

The book is so captivating to read and intriguing for every policy maker, politicians, and academicians in redefining the new democratic principles to better African democracies.