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.
Survey data indicate that Africans support democracy and its formal institutions, but also point to the importance of the informal realm, particularly when formal institutions fail to meet popular expectations.
By graciously accepting the defeat of a constitutional amendment that would have enabled him to seek a third term, President Olusegun Obasanjo has solidified his contribution to Nigerian democracy, but…
