Democracy and Development in Africa

A comparison of measures of stability & representativeness among 52 African countries in 1989 & 1992 indicates the trend away from predatory authoritarianism & toward democratic governments. This democratization is likely due to an interaction between domestic & external factors, including the 1980s economic crisis, the imposition of structural adjustment programs by external agencies (eg, the International Monetary Fund & the World Bank), & a predatory & corrupt political system. A discussion of democracy, including concepts of accountability, the rule of law, & freedom of information, is applied to Africa. The sustainability of democratization depends on the development of local institutions, external financing, & the role of the military. 1 Table, 11 References. J. Sadler