Strategies for Effective Policy Advocacy: Demanding Good Governance in Africa
By George Katito and Faten Aggad. South African Institute of International Affairs,. June 2009.
African civil society organizations (CSOs) play an essential role in advancing governance improvements, but this work is politically and technically challenging. While each African context features its particular pitfalls and demands nuanced strategies, a survey of African CSOs indicates that developing CSO effectiveness begins with four pillars: strategic planning, functional outreach networks, willingness to ”play politics” and push for change within the existing governance system, and harnessing technology for activism.
Download the article: [PDF]Africa and the Arab Spring: A New Era of Democratic Expectations
By Africa Center for Strategic Studies, November 2011.
Military coups in Mali and Guinea-Bissau have overshadowed a deepening institutionalization of democratic processes in Africa over the past decade. These advances have been augmented by a growing commitment by Africa's regional bodies to uphold emerging democratic standards. The Arab Spring, likewise, sparked a broader debate about the legitimate claims on authority across the continent. These crosscurrents reflect an ongoing struggle for governance norms in Africa that will require active engagement from African reformers and international partners to sustain Africa's democratic trajectory.
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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 or directly intervened in politics, thereby discrediting the entire security sector and marginalizing its role 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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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. Download the Article: [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. Download the Article: [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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