Democratization and Public Accountability at the Grassroots in Tanzania: A Missing Link

by Matrona Kabyemela Abstract Democratization processes in most developing countries like Tanzania generate concern as to the extent to which they promote public accountability at the grassroots. Although there have been various interventions to improve governance at the national and grassroots level, little is known about citizens’ ability to hold accountable their village government resulting […]

The Wilsonian Conception of Democracy and Human Rights: A Retrospective and Prospective

by Korwa G. Adar Introduction The principles of democracy and human rights have been persistent, if at times secondary, themes within the rhetoric of American foreign policy toward Africa since the end of World War II. The linking of such Wilsonian precepts with foreign policy practice, however, has been an altogether different story. US policy […]

The Challenges Facing Nigeria’s Foreign Policy in the Next Millennium

by Ebenezer Okpokpo Introduction Since Nigeria became independent in 1960 its foreign policy, like that of most other countries, has witnessed successes and failures. The current debate on President Obasanjo’s list of Ambassadorial nominees sent to the Senate for approval provides Nigerian citizens with an opportunity to contribute to the debate on who should be […]

Governance, Wealth Creation and Development in Africa: The Challenges and the Prospects

by John Mukum Mbaku Abstract Available evidence shows that human conditions in most African countries have deteriorated significantly in recent years. In fact, since many African countries began to gain independence in the 1960s, the standard of living for most Africans has either not improved or has done so only marginally. The general consensus among […]

The Legacy of J.J. Rawlings in Ghanaian Politics, 1979-2000

by John L. Adedeji Abstract Jerry John Rawlings, Ghana’s leader since the December 31, 1981 coup until the 2000 elections, was a Flight Lieutenant in the Air Force and a militant populist when he led the first coup of June 4, 1979, that overthrew the regime of Gen. Fred Akuffo, who had, in turn, deposed […]

Zimbabwe’s Triple Crisis: Primitive Accumulation, Nation-State Formation and Democratization in the Age of Neo-Liberal Globalization

by David Moore Abstract This paper utilizes classical and ‘modernization’ theoretical perspectives on primitive accumulation, nation-state formation and democratization to analyze the ‘conjunctural’ aspects of the current Zimbabwean crisis. Taking a structural perspective on the long-term factors, the paper provides the context to the violence-ridden and economically devastating current crisis of land reform, elections, succession, […]

Alternative Electoral Systems and the 2005 Ethiopian Parliamentary Election

by John Ishiyama Abstract What if an alternative set of electoral rules had been used to govern elections when an authoritarian regime introduces its first real competitive elections? Would this alter the trajectory of democratic transition, after the introduction of political competition? In this paper, I conduct a set of electoral simulations with different electoral […]

Nigeria’s Fourth Republic and the Challenge of a Faltering Democratization

by Dhikru Adewale Yagboyaju Abstract Nigeria’s present democratization, which culminated in the country’s Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999, started amidst great hope and expectations. Although the military regime that mid-wived the process could not significantly convince the generality of the citizens on its success, a huge section of the populace still believed it could […]

African Studies Quarterly

Tag: Democratization