Africanizing Democracies

1980-Present

Alicia C. Decker and Andrea L. Arrington

African World Histories

Africanizing Democracies examines the ways in which Africans have constructed and reshaped democracy in order to fit their own political ideals and agendas. Analyzing political democratization in this vast continent--which is home to fifty-five sovereign countries--the book includes voices of Africans from all walks of life and utilizes a wide variety of primary sources, including newspaper articles, speeches, memoirs, films, letters, and photographs. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of democratization in Africa, demonstrating how the process has had a significant impact on the continent's economic, social, and cultural landscape. Africanizing Democracies looks at democratization in relation to such topics as the end of apartheid, the role of women in politics, the Arab Spring, debt relief and humanitarian aid, China's growing involvement in Africa, HIV/AIDS and other significant health concerns, feminism and LGBT activism, and peace and security issues, among others.

Africanizing Democracies

1980-Present

Alicia C. Decker and Andrea L. Arrington

African World Histories

Description

Africanizing Democracies examines the ways in which Africans have constructed and reshaped democracy in order to fit their own political ideals and agendas. Analyzing political democratization in this vast continent--which is home to fifty-five sovereign countries--the book includes voices of Africans from all walks of life and utilizes a wide variety of primary sources, including newspaper articles, speeches, memoirs, films, letters, and photographs. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of democratization in Africa, demonstrating how the process has had a significant impact on the continent's economic, social, and cultural landscape. Africanizing Democracies looks at democratization in relation to such topics as the end of apartheid, the role of women in politics, the Arab Spring, debt relief and humanitarian aid, China's growing involvement in Africa, HIV/AIDS and other significant health concerns, feminism and LGBT activism, and peace and security issues, among others.

Africanizing Democracies

1980-Present

Alicia C. Decker and Andrea L. Arrington

African World Histories

Africanizing Democracies

1980-Present

Alicia C. Decker and Andrea L. Arrington

African World Histories

Author Information

Alicia C. Decker is Assistant Professor of History and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Purdue University.

Andrea L. Arrington is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Arkansas.

Africanizing Democracies

1980-Present

Alicia C. Decker and Andrea L. Arrington

African World Histories

Reviews and Awards

"Africanizing Democracies is accessible in its thematic scope and writing style. It takes key and timely themes in Africa's recent history and provides an entry point for discussion and case studies to illustrate the main points. The text is free of jargon and is written in a fluent manner."--Fiona Vernal, University of Connecticut

"Africanizing Democracies brings together several vital societal components that impact democratization. This serves to broaden the political science perspective beyond issues of elected offices and election monitoring which constitute the bulk of information on African politics in the popular media. The authors' keen awareness of the need to integrate issues of gender and LGBT rights in the democratization process is core to their central thesis of Africanized democracies. This book makes significant contributions to our understanding of older indigenous female leadership roles and the role they play in creating sustainable democratic systems in Africa."--Jamaine Abidogun, Missouri State University