The Feasibility of Democracy in Africa

Issues dealt with in this study of democracy in Africa, include underdevelopment and economic marginality, ethnic consciousness and the nature of political power in Africa. A true African democracy, Ake argues, is both a second independence and a deep need for self- realisation. The late distinguished scholar outlines, in a sweeping continental survey, how the democratic commitment has transformed Africa's legacy of dictatorship, military regimes and single-party rule. He also demonstrates how cleverly conservative autocrats have spoken the democratic message and subverted its promise. The danger of trivialising democracy into successive multi-party elections is now very real, and the books spells out the hazards facing nascent democratic movements.