Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Historically, African political institutions, such as the legislature, have been seen as weak and fragile, and vulnerable to manipulation, leading some to claim that Africa is 'institutionless'. However, recent developments such as the consolidation of presidential term-limits in a number of countries demonstrate that this depiction of the continent is no longer tenable. By drawing attention to how institutions can shape the practice of politics, this book demonstrates that electoral commissions, legislatures and judiciaries are vital to our understanding of contemporary Africa. This volume draws together cutting-edge work to explain how the rules of the game shape political developments across the continent, from Kenya to Nigeria and from Benin to South Africa. In chapters that cover bureaucracy, constitutions, elections, political parties, and the police, the authors argue that a new research agenda is required if we are to better understand the process of democratization.