Africa's Militaries: A Missing Link in Democratic Transitions
By Mathurin C. Houngnikpo. Africa Center for Strategic Studies, January 2012.
The institutionalization of democratic norms in Africa's militaries is often lagging behind advances made in civilian institutions and civil society. In some situations, security sectors have actively aligned themselves with incumbent leaders seeking to stay in power, thereby discrediting the entire security sector and marginalizing the role it can play when transitions do occur. With national elections becoming increasingly routine and subject to stricter oversight, such dilemmas will continue to be front and center in Africa's political development.
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Africa and the Arab Spring: A New Era of Democratic Expectations
Africa Center for Strategic Studies, November 2011.
Africa’s governance landscape changed remarkably in 2011. The Arab Spring demonstrated the possibility of tangible change from popular protest and sparked a broader debate about the legitimate claims on authority across the continent. Other structural and institutional changes have simultaneously led to significant democratic advances in Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Nigeria, and Zambia, among other places. While governance patterns have shifted, formidable crosscurrents complicate Africa's democratic trajectory. A range of priority actions by African and international actors are needed to support expanding democratic norms in the region.
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Social Networks and Democratic Transitions
By Joseph Siegle. Developing Alternatives, 2008.
The success and stability of democratic transitions is often a function of the strength of prevailing social networks. Such transitions often face active resistance from vested interests. Yet, the cohesion of networks of civic groups, labor unions, business associations, and others with robust information-sharing systems permit the flexibility and resilience needed to realize genuine reforms and ensure stable transitions. [PDF]
Assessing Electoral Fraud in New Democracies: A Strategic Approach
By Staffan Darnolf. IFES, March 2011. Recent and upcoming elections around Africa demonstrate that transparent and well-managed electoral systems are key to advancing transitional states, consolidating democratic progress, and avoiding destabilizing disputes. Current electoral management methods, however, frequently lack focused strategies that integrate electoral commissions, political parties, and civil society monitors to effectively assess, deter, detect, and mitigate fraud. [PDF]Progress and Retreat in Africa: Legislatures on the Rise?
By Joel Barkan. Journal of Democracy, 2008.
Legislatures in Africa are becoming more assertive and securing a more equal distribution of political and decision-making power within the continent's young multi-party democracies. Particularly notable improvements have been achieved in Kenya and Ghana and reveal 10 parameters that determine the balance of authority between branches of government.
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