Liberal Democracy and Its Critics in Africa Political Dysfunction and the Struggle for Progress

by Lumumba-Kasongo, Tukumbi

• ISBN13: 9781842776186
• ISBN10: 1842776185
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-11-12
• Publisher: ZED BOOKS

Summary

This book draws on the experiences of particular African elections and countries to explore the continuing impact of police state apparatuses; the factors influencing voters' attitudes and behavior; the impact of incumbency on electoral competition; women's participation; and the lack of choice in party programs. The fundamental issue is whether democratic processes as currently practiced in Africa are really making any difference.

Author Biography

Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo is Professor of Political Science at Wells College and holds positions at Cornell University, Hiroshima University and Université de Cocody, Côte d'Ivoire.

Table of Contents

About the contributors	vii
Preface	x
The problematics of liberal democracy and democratic process: lessons for deconstructing and building African democracies	1	(25)
Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo
Reflections on the question of political transition in Africa: the police state	26	(20)
Rachid Tlemcani
An explanation of electoral attitudes in Cameroon 1990--92: towards a new appraisal	46	(30)
Joseph-Marie Zambo Belinga
Factors influencing women's participation in democratization and electoral processes in Kenya: a case study of Gusii women 1992--97	76	(23)
Beatrice N. Onsarigo
Alliances in the political and electoral process in the Republic of Congo 1991--97	99	(26)
Joachim Emmanuel Goma-Thethet
The electoral process and the 2000 general elections in Ghana	125	(24)
Emmanuel Debrah
Voting without choosing: interrogating the crisis of `electoral democracy' in Nigeria	149	(23)
W. Alade Fawole
The electoral process in the Central African Republic in 1993 and 1999: protagonists and challenges	172	(24)
Aime Samuel Saba
Conclusion: beyond the current discourse on democracy and democratic process in Africa	196	(8)
Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo
Index	204