Region: Africa
Fall 1991, Volume 2, Issue 4
Political Corruption: Nigeria’s Perennial Struggle
Read the full essay here.
Summer 1991, Volume 2, Issue 3
Reconstituting South Africa
A review of A Democratic South Africa? Constitutional Engineering in a Divided Society, by Donald L. Horowitz.
Summer 1991, Volume 2, Issue 3
Democrats and Bureaucrats
A review of Democracy in Botswana: The Proceedings of a Symposium Held in Gaborone, 1-5 August 1988, edited by John Holm and Patrick Molutsi.
Fall 1990, Volume 1, Issue 4
South Africa’s Future
The Editors’ introduction to “South Africa’s Future.”
Fall 1990, Volume 1, Issue 4
South Africa’s Future: A Turbulent Transition
Read the full essay here.
Fall 1990, Volume 1, Issue 4
South Africa’s Future: Symposium—Inkatha Freedom Party
Read the full essay here.
Fall 1990, Volume 1, Issue 4
South Africa’s Future: Symposium—Pan Africanist Congress
Read the full essay here.
Fall 1990, Volume 1, Issue 4
South Africa’s Future: Symposium—African National Congress
Fall 1990, Volume 1, Issue 4
South Africa’s Future: Symposium—Anglo American Corporation
Read the full essay here.
Fall 1990, Volume 1, Issue 4
South Africa’s Future: Symposium—Conservative Party
Read the full essay here.
Fall 1990, Volume 1, Issue 4
South Africa’s Future: Symposium—National Party
Read the full essay here.
Fall 1990, Volume 1, Issue 4
South Africa’s Future: Symposium—Democratic Party
Read the full essay here.
Summer 1990, Volume 1, Issue 3
Third World Communism in Crisis: The Fall of Afro-Marxism
Read the full essay here.
Winter 1990, Volume 1, Issue 1
Achebe’s Africa
A review of Anthills of the Savannah, by Chinua Achebe.
Tanzania Will Never Be the Same
Tanzania’s October election was a sham. When people rose up in protest, the regime responded with a brutal crackdown. That reign of terror marks a turning point for the country, and there is no going back.
Cameroon’s Election Casts a Long Shadow
Cameroonians just reelected the 92-year-old Paul Biya in an election that voters rightly view with suspicion. The tensions under the surface don’t bode well for the country or its people.
Has Tanzania Reached Its Breaking Point?
President Hassan promised Tanzanians freedom, transparency, and reform. Instead, she has delivered repression, violence, and arrests as she bars anyone who dares challenge her.
How Zambia’s Cyber Laws Rebrand Repression
The hope was that President Hakainde Hichilema would bring much-needed reform and openness. Instead, he has ushered in new laws that are silencing dissent and free expression.
Why Kenya’s Gen Z Has Taken to the Streets
The country’s young people are no longer willing to accept politics without accountability, and the government’s repressive crackdown is only fueling their movement. Gen Z is reshaping the future of Kenyan democracy.
Kenya’s Shaky Handshake Deals
The country has a long history of power-sharing deals that are sealed with a handshake. The truth is that this type of political bargaining typically does more harm than good.
How a Pastor Found the Courage to Defy a Dictator
Evan Mawarire never thought of himself as a revolutionary. In a gripping new memoir, he tells the story of how he went from a humble clergyman to the leader of a movement that helped the Zimbabwean people find their voice.
The Pitfalls of Power Sharing
People are calling for a so-called unity government to stem the violence in Mozambique. But there is a better way to set the country on the right course.
Botswana’s Misunderstood “Miracle”
The country’s 2024 presidential contest was a big surprise, as voters elected a new party for the first time. Despite decades of dominant-party rule, a strong democratic culture has long been ingrained in Botswana.
Why Ghana’s Election Matters Across Africa
The West African democracy is one of the continent’s most enduring, but it shouldn’t be taken for granted. It’s a bulwark for democracy beyond its borders.
Senegal’s Remarkable Win for Democracy
In February, the West African country appeared to be on the cusp of chaos as its president tried to seize power for himself. How Senegal became one of 2024’s biggest democratic success stories.
What Burkina Faso’s Tragic History Teaches Us
Ten years after the revolution, the lessons for protecting a budding democracy and guarding against violent extremism are clear.
South Africa’s Watershed Election
The ANC lost its majority for the first time, but populist forces were held at bay.
Democracy Wins in Senegal
The president wanted to remain in power, but the people’s demands prevailed in the end.
Africa’s Leaders for Life
The continent’s aspiring dictators are attacking term limits with a vengeance, finding new ways to avoid handing over power. But citizens are overwhelmingly against it — and can help keep their leaders in check.
South Africa Has Entered a New Era
The African National Congress can no longer call all the shots, and opposition parties will have more sway. Will this lead to a more inclusive democracy or gridlock and division?
Standing Up to Africa’s Juntas
A string of Kremlin-backed military coups have brought a collection of juntas to power. The West should resist calls to placate them, and instead stick to its values and push for a return to civilian rule.
The Demise of Senegalese Democracy
President Macky Sall has called off his country’s presidential election just weeks ahead of the vote. His unconstitutional decree will not only keep him in power, but threatens to throw Senegal into violent chaos.
Electoral Systems and Democracy
This book compares the experiences of diverse countries, from Latin America to southern Africa, from Uruguay, Japan, and Taiwan to Israel, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Democratization in Africa: Progress and Retreat
At a time when democracy seems to be in retreat in many parts of the world, Africa presents a more mixed picture. Democratization in Africa: Progress and Retreat brings into focus the complex landscape of African politics by pairing broad analytical surveys with country-specific case studies.