africa & democracy

Tuesday 25th October

Democracy and development: towards Busan

Alina Rocha Menocal, 25 October 2011

The capacity of new or fragile democratic regimes to deliver development is being closely debated as international agencies prepare for a landmark summit in South Korea. The core issue at stake is presented by Alina Rocha Menocal.

Monday 24th October

Kenya and Somalia: landscape of tension

Daniel Branch, 24 October 2011

"Kenya doesn’t know war. We know war." A fractious mix of violence and politics is unsettling the relationship between east African neighbours and putting more pressure on Somalis living in Kenya. The Somali militia group known as al-Shabaab is often viewed as the source of the problem. But the roots of the turmoil go deep in Kenya's own history, says Daniel Branch.

Tuesday 4th October

South Africa’s future: the Malema factor

Stephen Ellis, 4 October 2011

The rise of the controversial populist Julius Malema is shaking the ruling African National Congress, says Stephen Ellis.

Monday 3rd October

Libya's revolution: tribe, nation, politics

Igor Cherstich, 3 October 2011

The Libyan war is often portrayed through a “tribal” lens that fails to explain how the country’s tribes coexist with a sense of nationhood, says Igor Cherstich.

Tuesday 27th September

An African future: beyond the culture of dependency

Wangari Maathai, 27 September 2011

The experience of poor farmers in Kenya is a lesson in the need for an anti-corruption revolution. (This article is republished in tribute to the pioneering environmentalist Wangari Maathai, who died on 25 September 2011)

Thursday 7th April

Daniel Goldhagen and Kenya: recycling fantasy

David Elstein, 7 April 2011

Daniel Goldhagen’s book “Worse Than War” includes British colonial rule in Kenya in the 1950s among its case-studies of “elimination”. A close reading of the demographic evidence reveals the falsity of the argument, says David Elstein.

(This article was first published on 4 March 2010)

Wednesday 15th September

Sudan: prospect and lesson

Richard Cockett, 15 September 2010

The forthcoming referendum on independence in south Sudan could lead to the break-up of Africa’s biggest country. But if Sudan has failed as a unitary state its end carries dangers, says Richard Cockett.

Tuesday 4th May

Jacob Zuma: a year of drift

Roger Southall, 4 May 2010

The South African president’s achievement on his anniversary in power is to leave his country rudderless and his party at war, says Roger Southall.

Tuesday 13th April

Nigeria and the politics of massacre

Martin Shaw, 13 April 2010

The brutal violence against people of a different ethnicity or religion seen in the central Nigerian state of Jos is the most common face of genocide worldwide, says Martin Shaw.

Friday 17th July