Democratic Contestation on the Margins: Regimes in Small African Countries

by Claire Metelits (Editor), Stephanie Matti (Editor), Nicola de Jager (Contribution by), Daniel Eizenga (Contribution by), Mathurin C. Houngnikpo (Contribution by)

Overview

This edited volume focuses on the democratic performance of regimes in some of the least populous countries on the African continent. Using a framework developed by Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way, each case study provides in-depth analysis of democratic contestation in the following arenas: electoral, judiciary, legislature, media, and civil society. This volume also examines the key factors that push these regimes in either democratic or authoritarian directions, and how these regimes are likely to evolve in the future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739193440
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	04/21/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	184
File size:	820 KB

About the Author

Claire Metelits is a visiting scholar at Davidson College.

Stephanie Matti works in humanitarian response.

Table of Contents

1. Democratic Contestation on the Margins

Claire Metelits and Stephanie Matti

1. Competitive Authoritarianism and Theories of Regime Change

Claire Metelits and Stephanie Matti

1. Democratic Contestation in Botswana

Nicola de Jager and Ian Taylor

1. Eroding Democracy: Competitive Authoritarian Drift in Benin

Mathurin C. Houngnikpo

1. Political Uncertainty in Burkina Faso

Daniel Eizenga

1. Democratic Governance in the “New” Republic of Togo

Benjamin A. Okonofua

1. Authoritarianism and Geostrategic Politics in Djibouti

Claire Metelits and Stephanie Matti

1. Cycles of Regime Change in Guinea-Bissau

Davin O’Regan

1. Listening to the Margins

Claire Metelits and Stephanie Matti

Editorial Reviews

This book fills an important gap by providing useful accounts of current politics in six small and infrequently discussed African states. Each case study uses the framework of competitive authoritarianism to present material on the main arenas of democratic contestation. I recommend this book to anyone seeking up-to-date comparative information on the struggles for democratization in these countries.

Nelson Kasfir

The notion of competitive authoritarianism provides a better understanding of hybrid regimes executing political hegemony with authoritarian elements within a multi-party democracy. The case studies from smaller African countries in this volume offer further insights into this phenomenon and add value to the debate of a relevant concept.

Henning Melber

This volume examines a number of demographically small African countries, which are also among the least-studied countries on earth. Each case study will be of intrinsic interest to those seeking to understand these little-known cases. More importantly, however, each chapter contributes crucial information on how these regimes might best be categorized for comparative theoretical analysis. By providing valuable and nuanced discussions of the nature of each of these cases, the volume also contributes important data for the elaboration of broader theories of democratization and regime change, in Africa and beyond.

Leonardo A. Villalón