The Challenge of African Democracy

Reddy, Thiven

The Challenge of African Democracy

Book Review

2008

Journal Title

African Affairs

Link to Journal

http://afraf.oxfordjournals.org/

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Political Studies

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

ORDINARY AFRICAN CITIZENS EXPECTED A BETTER LIFE following independence, but the post-independence period has proved to be utterly disappointing. The dominant narrative of the experience since independence can be read as follows: expectations at independence; failure of the state and elites to address African development and democracy; crisis of rule, poverty and societal withdrawal; structural adjustment programmes; internal opposition; democratic transitions with varied outcomes; and the present disappointment with democracy. Yet many of those living on the continent remain optimistic about the future. Where once coups were the established pattern for elite circulation, and single-party and military regimes dominated the African political landscape, the late 1980s witnessed a wave of competitive multi-party elections across the continent. In the hostile socioeconomic conditions prevalent in many African countries, the possibility of democracy flourishing was interpreted as a new beginning.

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