Democracy and civil society in Africa : prospects, issues and challenges

Abstract

Resumen: For the last eight years, Africa has been involved in what many observers believe is a veritable “democratic revolution”. Throughout the continent, authoritarian regimes have recently crumbled or felt the pressures to liberalise their polities as well as their economies. The demise of authoritarianism has been accompanied by a vocal popular repudiation of personal rule, elitist domination, ethnic entrepreneurship and official corruption. These shifts in Africa’s political landscape raise fundamental challenges for its political development. The era of political liberalisation, constitutional change and shifts to competitive electoral regimes do certainly not guarantee nor ensure transition to sustainable democratic rule in Africa.