Constitutionalism and Society in Africa

by Okon Akiba (Editor)

Overview

The issues addressed in this rewarding book provide new insight into the way we conceive, reflect and study the problems of political transformation and constitution-making in Africa. The study provides a refreshingly in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of constitutional provisions for managing the challenges of race, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, civil liberties and civil-military relations in Africa's transitional democracies. Tracing emerging trends in constitution-making, it blends the theory of constitutional democracy with case studies, and defines the imperative of social justice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781351949361
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/02/2017
Series:	Contemporary Perspectives on Developing Societies
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Okon Akiba

Table of Contents

Contents: Introduction: Constitutional government and the future of constitutionalism in Africa, Okon Akiba. African Values of Government: The impact of imperialism on constitutional thought in Africa, Peter P. Ekeh; On the study of constitutional government in Africa, Richard L. Sklar. Citizenship and Civil Liberties: Of citizens and citizenship, Olufemi Taiwo; The Great Lakes crisis: historical origins, contemporary significance, Mahmood Mamdani. Ethnicity and Pluralism: Ethnicity, the state and constitutionalism in Africa: preliminary observations, Eghosa E. Osaghae; Constitutionalism and political inclusion in Nigeria, John Boye Ejobowah. Controlling the Military and Civil Conflict: Bringing the military and security agencies under democratic control: a challenge to African constitutionalism, Eboe Hutchful; Competing images of Africa: democratization and its challenges, Crawford Young. Epilogue: We, the people - our dignity and the constitution, Wole Soyinka; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'In an era of interdisciplinary studies, globalization and transnationalism, this volume is a timely and remarkable contribution from scholars of diverse academic specializations and cultural experiences to the scholarship on African political studies...The essays are well-written, insightful, and lucidly analytical...This volume will certainly fill a major vacuum in the scholarship of contemporary African politics and society.' Associate Professor Olufemi Vaughan, State University of New York, USA

'This book offers some interesting reflections on the subject...There are instructive discussions on citizenship, ethnicity, the effects of imperialism, and the challenges of democratisation, to name but a few of the issues addressed in this book. It is a work which deserves to be warmly welcomed.' Journal of the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association

'...the editor has done a good job in presenting and synthesizing the main issues discussed in the volume...Overall, the volume provides a useful introduction to some of the principal issues facing African countries as they embark on improving their forms of governance.' African Studies Review

From the Publisher