Since 1992, Mali has managed to preserve its democracy in the face of great odds. Continued vigilance will be needed, however, to prevent the gains of the past decade from slipping away.
About the Author
Zeric Kay Smith, a senior research associate with Management Systems International in Washington, D.C., was formerly a visiting assistant professor of government and international studies and a resident fellow at the Walker Institute for International Studies at the University of South Carolina. He has published extensively on Malian, African, and Caribbean politics.
Data from the latest wave of the Afrobarometer survey show that Africans’ demand for liberal democracy remains high. The problem lies in lagging supply.
When Africa’s leaders act undemocratically, they face an unexpected opponent—the power of the pulpit. Within civil society, church leaders and their faithful have become leading defenders of liberal democracy.
