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Institutions and democracy in Africa : how the rules of the game shape political developments / How the rules of the game shape political developments edited by Nic Cheeseman. - Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY, USA : Cambridge University Press, 2018. - xv, 381 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction. Understanding African politics : bringing the state back in / Institutional foundations. Institutional legacies : understanding multiparty politics in historical perspective / Property and land institutions : origins, variations and political effects / Financial institutions : economic liberalisation, credit and opposition party successes / Law and order. Constitutions : the politics of constitutional reform / The police : laws, prosecutions and women's rights in Liberia / The bureaucracy : policy implementation and reform / Elections, parties and political competition. Political parties : presidential succession crises and internal party democracy / Elections : the power of elections in multiparty Africa / Electoral rules : the relationship between political exclusion and conflict / Term limits : leadership, political competition and the transfer of power / Countervailing institutions. The legislature : institutional strengthening in dominant-party states / The judiciary : courts, judges and the rule of law / Decentralisation : accountability in local government / Political institutions and democracy in Africa : a research agenda / Nic Cheeseman -- Rachel Beatty Riedl -- Catherine Boone -- Leonardo R. Arriola -- Muna Ndulo -- Peace A. Medie -- M. Anne Pitcher and Manuel P. Teodoro -- Ian Cooper -- Carolien van Ham and Staffan I. Lindberg -- Brian Klaas -- Daniel N. Posner and Daniel J. Young -- Michaela Collord -- Peter VonDoepp -- Alex Dyzenhaus -- Nic Cheeseman. Part I. Part II. Part III. Part IV. Conclusion.

"Historically, African political institutions such as constitutions, legislatures and judiciaries have been seen as weak and vulnerable to manipulation, leading some to claim that the continent is 'institutionless'. However, recent developments including the consolidation of presidential term limits in a number of countries demonstrate that this depiction is no longer tenable. By drawing attention to how institutions can shape the practice of politics, this book demonstrates that electoral commissions, economic regulations and systems of land tenure are vital to our understanding of contemporary Africa. A series of cutting-edge contributions from leading scholars 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 bureaucracies, constitutions, elections, political parties, the police and more, the authors argue that a new research agenda is required if we are to better understand the process of democratisation."--

ISBN: 9781107148246 9781316602553 1316602559

Standard No.: 14763982

LCCN: 2017044887

Nat. Bib. No.: GBB7N1739 bnb

Nat. Bib. Agency Control No.: 018635082 Uk

Subjects--Chronological Terms:
2000-2099

Subjects--Topical Terms:
Political culture--Africa.
Democracy--Africa.
Democracy.
Political culture.
Politics and government.

Subjects--Geographic Terms:
Africa--Politics and government--21st century.
Africa.

LC Class. No.: JQ1875 / .I55 2018

Dewey Class. No.: 320.96