Bloomsbury Academic Democratization in Africa: The Theory and Dynamics of Political Transitions

In this stimulating and carefully researched study, Conteh-Morgan offers a multidimensional look at the political economy of African states. While many books focus on explanations of the processes and outcomes of political transitions, this work demonstrates a deeper understanding of democratization by combining macro and micro issues and actors, and historical and contemporary dynamics, into a theoretical framework that underscores anomalies, dilemmas, and paradoxes in the political transformation of Africa. Offering one of the first detailed and balanced evaluations of democratization, Conteh-Morgan breaks new ground by providing thought provoking insights into political transitions in developing countries. The work will be of interest to scholars in comparative politics, development studies, and African studies. Review ?[A] generalized and theoretical introduction to the democratization process in Africa, which the author contends is in a transitional stage and is adversely affected by too many unresolved and conflicting internal as well as external influences.... Researchers and graduate students will find this a useful review of earlier analyses of democratization.?-Choice "ÝA¨ generalized and theoretical introduction to the democratization process in Africa, which the author contends is in a transitional stage and is adversely affected by too many unresolved and conflicting internal as well as external influences.... Researchers and graduate students will find this a useful review of earlier analyses of democratization."-Choice "[A] generalized and theoretical introduction to the democratization process in Africa, which the author contends is in a transitional stage and is adversely affected by too many unresolved and conflicting internal as well as external influences.... Researchers and graduate students will find this a useful review of earlier analyses of democratization."-Choice About the Author EARL CONTEH-MORGAN is Associate Professor in the department of Government and International Affairs at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He is the author of two previous books, Japan and the Global Agenda (1992) and American Foreign Aid and Global Power Projection (1990).