The study of political transitions in Africa

Osaghae, Eghosa E.

doi:10.1080/03056249508704120

ScienceOpen: research and publishing network

For Publishers

For Researchers

Blog
About

Search
Advanced search

162

views

recommends

From January 2024, all of our readers will be able to access every part of ROAPE as well as its archive without a paywall. This will make ROAPE accessible to a much wider readership, especially in Africa. We need subscriptions and donations to make this revolutionary intiative work.

Subscribe and Donate now!

scite_

Review of African Political Economy

Volume 22, Issue 64

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: found

Is Open Access

The study of political transitions in Africa

Published

research-article

Author(s): Eghosa E. Osaghae ^a ^, ^b

Publication date (Print): June 1995

Journal: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

Bookmark

Abstract

This article examines some of the inadequacies of dominant Western perspectives, especially those originating from the US for studying political transitions in Africa, by focusing on the current democratic transitions. It attributes the major flaws to the hegemonic and ideological interests which these transitions are designed to serve and which underlie approaches made popular by Western scholars, to a ‘periodic’ conceptualisation of the process of transition itself, to the consequent treatment of transition in an ahistorical manner and the abandonment of previous perspectives of social and political change, and to the failure to relate transitions to the developmental needs of countries involved as determined by the peoples themselves. It discusses how these weaknesses can be overcome and outlines the requirements for a more adequate framework for studying transitions.

Content

Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): crea20

Journal ID (archive): CREA

Title: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

ISSN (Print): 0305-6244

ISSN (Electronic): 1740-1720

Publication date (Print): June 1995

Volume: 22

Issue: 64

Pages: 183-197

Affiliations

^a formerly at Ibadan University

^b in now Professor of Political Studies at the University of Transkei

Article

Publisher ID: 8704120 Coden ID: Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 22, No. 64, June 1995, pp. 183-197

DOI: 10.1080/03056249508704120

SO-VID: 49785067-2a0b-4e6f-b786-3aaba2327971

License:

All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

History

Page count

Figures: 0, Tables: 0, References: 52, Pages: 15

Bibliographic note

Agbaje A. . 1992. . ‘Adjusting State and Market in Nigeria: The Paradoxes of Orthodoxy’. . Afrika Spectrum . , Vol. 27((2))
Adekanye (Adekson) J B. . 1978. . ‘On the Theory of Modernizing Soldier: a Critique’. . Current Research on Peace and Violence . , Vol. 8((1))
Apter D E and Rosberg C G. , eds. 1994. . Political Development and the New Realism in Sub‐Saharan Africa . , Charlottesville : : University Press of Virginia. .
Bayart J‐F. . 1993. . The State in Africa: The Politics of the Belly . , London : : Longman. .
Bratton M and Walle N van de. . 1993. . ‘Transitions to Democracy in Africa: a Cross‐National Study, Research Design and Methodology’. . Global Coalition for Africa/Africa Leadership Forum Methodology paper . ,
Busia K A. . 1967. . Africa in Search of Democracy . , London : : Routledge & Kegan Paul. .
Chazan N, Mortimer R, Ravenhill J and Rothchild D. . 1992. . Politics and Society in Contemporary Africa . , 2nd edn. , Boulder : : Lynne Rienner and Basingstoke: Macmillan. .
Cohen D L and Daniel J. , eds. 1981. . Political Economy of Africa: Selected Readings . , London : : Longman. .
Dahl R A. . 1971. . Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition . , New Haven : : Yale University Press. .
1989. . Democracy and its Critics . , New Haven : : Yale University Press. .
Diamond L. . 1993. . “‘The Globalization of Democracy’. ”. In Global Transformation and the Third World . , Edited by: Slater R O. . Boulder: Lynne Rienner & London : : Adamantine. .
Linz JJ and Lipset S M. . 1988. . Democracy in Developing Countries: Africa . , Boulder : : Lynne Rienner. .
Ekeh P P. . 1990. . ‘Social Anthropology and Two Contrasting Uses of Tribalism in Africa’. . Comparative Studies in Society and History . , Vol. 32((4))
Caron B, Gboyega A and Osaghae E. , eds. 1992. . “‘The Constitution of Civil Society in African History and Politics’. ”. In Democratic Transition in Africa . , Ibadan : : CREDU. .
Gendzier I L. . 1985. . Managing Political Change: Social Scientists and the Third World . , Boulder & London : : Westview. .
Gibbon P, Bangura Y and Ofstad A. , eds. 1992. . Authoritarianism, Democracy, and Adjustment: The Politics of Economic Reform in Africa . , Uppsala : : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet. .
Goldsworthy D. . 1986. . “‘Armies and Politics in Civilian Systems’. ”. In Military Politics and Power in Black Africa . , Edited by: Baynham S. . London : : Croom Helm. .
Harbeson J W, Rothchild D and Chazan N. , eds. 1994. . Civil Society and the State in Africa . , Boulder : : Lynne Rienner. .
Healey J and Robinson M. . 1992. . Democracy, Governance and Economic Policy . , London : : Overseas Development Institute. .
Hermet G. . 1990. . “‘From One Europe to the Other: From Liberal Authoritarianism to Authoritarian Democratisation’. ”. In Democratic Transition and Consolidation In Southern Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia . , Edited by: Ethier D. . Basingstoke : : Macmillan. .
Higgott R A. . 1983. . Political Development Theory: The Contemporary Debate . , London : : Croom Helm. .
Himmelstrand U, Kinyanjui K and Mburugu E. , eds. 1994. . African Perspectives on Development: Controversies Dilemmas and Openings . , London : : James Currey. .
Huntington SP. . 1968. . Political Order in Changing Societies . , New Haven : : Yale University Press. .
1971. . ‘The Change to Change: Modernisation, Development and Politics’. . Comparative Politics . , Vol. 4((3))
1984. . ‘Will More Countries Become Democratic?’. . Political Science Quarterly . , Vol. 99((2))
1991. . The Third Wave: Democratisation in the Late Twentieth Century . , Norman : : Oklahoma University Press. .
Nelson J M. . 1976. . No Easy Choice . , Cambridge : : Havard University Press. .
Hyden G and Bratton M. , eds. 1992. . Governance and Politics in Africa . , Boulder & London : : Lynne Rienner. .
Joseph R A. . 1987. . “‘Democracy and Prebendal Politics’. ”. In Nigeria: The Rise and Fall of the Second Republic . , Cambridge : : Cambridge University Press. .
Legum C. . 1986. . “‘Democracy in Africa: Hopes and Trends’. ”. In Democracy and Pluralism in Africa . , Edited by: Ronen D. . Boulder : : Lynne Rienner. .
Midgal J. . 1988. . Strong Societies and Weak States: State‐Society Relations and State Capabilities in the Third World . , Princeton : : Princeton University Press. .
Mkandawire T. . 1994. . “‘Adjustment, Political Conditionality and Democratisation in Africa’. ”. In From Adjustment to Development in Africa: Conflict, Controversy, Convergence, Consensus? . , Edited by: Cornia G A and Helleiner G K. . New York : : St Martin's Press. .
Nzongola‐Ntalaja. . 1987. . Revolution and Counter‐Revolution in Africa: Essays in Contemporary Politics . , London : : IAA/Zed). .
O'Donnell G and Schmitter P. . 1986. . Transitions from Authoritarian Rule: Tentative Conclusions about Uncertain Democracies . , Baltimore : : John Hopkins University Press. .
Olukoshi A O. , ed. 1993. . The Politics of Structural Adjustment in Nigeria . , London : : James Currey. .
Onimode B. . 1991. . “‘Transcending the Politics of Adjustment’. ”. In Debt and Democracy, 3: Alternative Strategies for Africa . , London : : IFAA. .
Osaghae E E. , ed. 1994. . Between State and Civil Society in Africa: Perspectives on Development . , Dakar : : CODESRIA. .
Ould‐Mey M. . 1994. . ‘Global Adjustment: Implications for Peripheral States’. . Third World Quarterly . , Vol. 15((2))
Oyovbaire SE. . 1983. . “‘The Tyranny of Borrowed Paradigms and the Responsibility of Political Science: The Nigerian Experience’. ”. In Political Science in Africa: A Critical Reader . , Edited by: Barongo Y R. . London : : Zed. .
Rotberg R I. , ed. 1988. . Africa in the 1990s and Beyond: US Policy Opportunities and Choices . , Algonac, Michigan : : Reference Publications. .
Rothchild D and Chazan N. , eds. 1988. . The Precarious Balance: State and Society in Africa . , Boulder : : Westview Press. .
Rustow D A. . 1970. . ‘Transitions to Democracy: Towards a Dynamic Model’. . Comparative Politics . , Vol. 2((3))
Sklar R L and Whitaker C S. , eds. 1991. . African Politics and Problems in Development . , Boulder : : Lynne Rienner. .
Slater R O, Schutz B M and Dorr S R. , eds. 1993. . Global Transformation and the Third World . , Boulder : : Lynne Reinner. .
Stepan A. . 1990. . ‘On the Tasks of a Democratic Opposition’. . Journal of Democracy . , Vol. 1((2))
Vanhanen T. . 1990. . The Process of Democratisation: A Comparative Study of 147 States, 1980–88 . , New York : : Crane Russak. .
Weiner M and Huntington S P. , eds. 1987. . Understanding Political Development . , Boston : : Little, Brown. .
Welch C E. . 1988. . “‘Obstacles to Disengagement and Democratisation:Military Regimes in Benin and Burkina Faso’. ”. In The Decline of Military Regimes: The Civilian Influence . , Edited by: Danopoulos C. . Boulder : : Westview. .
Widner J A. , ed. 1994. . Economic Change and Political Liberalization in Sub‐Saharan Africa . , Baltimore : : John Hopkins University Press. .
Wignaraja P. , ed. 1993. . New Social Movements in the South: Empowering the People . , London : : Zed. .
Wilbert C K. , ed. 1973. . The Political Economy of Development and Underdevelopment . , New York : : Random House. .
Wiseman J A. . 1990. . Democracy in Black Africa: Survival and Revival . , New York : : Paragon House. .

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Agbaje A. . 1992. . ‘Adjusting State and Market in Nigeria: The Paradoxes of Orthodoxy’. . Afrika Spectrum . , Vol. 27((2))

[2] Adekanye (Adekson) J B. . 1978. . ‘On the Theory of Modernizing Soldier: a Critique’. . Current Research on Peace and Violence . , Vol. 8((1))

[3] Apter D E and Rosberg C G. , eds. 1994. . Political Development and the New Realism in Sub‐Saharan Africa . , Charlottesville : : University Press of Virginia. .

[4] Bayart J‐F. . 1993. . The State in Africa: The Politics of the Belly . , London : : Longman. .

[5] Bratton M and Walle N van de. . 1993. . ‘Transitions to Democracy in Africa: a Cross‐National Study, Research Design and Methodology’. . Global Coalition for Africa/Africa Leadership Forum Methodology paper . ,

[6] Busia K A. . 1967. . Africa in Search of Democracy . , London : : Routledge & Kegan Paul. .

[7] Chazan N, Mortimer R, Ravenhill J and Rothchild D. . 1992. . Politics and Society in Contemporary Africa . , 2nd edn. , Boulder : : Lynne Rienner and Basingstoke: Macmillan. .

[8] Cohen D L and Daniel J. , eds. 1981. . Political Economy of Africa: Selected Readings . , London : : Longman. .

[9] Dahl R A. . 1971. . Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition . , New Haven : : Yale University Press. .

[10] 1989. . Democracy and its Critics . , New Haven : : Yale University Press. .

[11] Diamond L. . 1993. . “‘The Globalization of Democracy’. ”. In Global Transformation and the Third World . , Edited by: Slater R O. . Boulder: Lynne Rienner & London : : Adamantine. .

[12] Linz JJ and Lipset S M. . 1988. . Democracy in Developing Countries: Africa . , Boulder : : Lynne Rienner. .

[13] Ekeh P P. . 1990. . ‘Social Anthropology and Two Contrasting Uses of Tribalism in Africa’. . Comparative Studies in Society and History . , Vol. 32((4))

[14] Caron B, Gboyega A and Osaghae E. , eds. 1992. . “‘The Constitution of Civil Society in African History and Politics’. ”. In Democratic Transition in Africa . , Ibadan : : CREDU. .

[15] Gendzier I L. . 1985. . Managing Political Change: Social Scientists and the Third World . , Boulder & London : : Westview. .

[16] Gibbon P, Bangura Y and Ofstad A. , eds. 1992. . Authoritarianism, Democracy, and Adjustment: The Politics of Economic Reform in Africa . , Uppsala : : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet. .

[17] Goldsworthy D. . 1986. . “‘Armies and Politics in Civilian Systems’. ”. In Military Politics and Power in Black Africa . , Edited by: Baynham S. . London : : Croom Helm. .

[18] Harbeson J W, Rothchild D and Chazan N. , eds. 1994. . Civil Society and the State in Africa . , Boulder : : Lynne Rienner. .

[19] Healey J and Robinson M. . 1992. . Democracy, Governance and Economic Policy . , London : : Overseas Development Institute. .

[20] Hermet G. . 1990. . “‘From One Europe to the Other: From Liberal Authoritarianism to Authoritarian Democratisation’. ”. In Democratic Transition and Consolidation In Southern Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia . , Edited by: Ethier D. . Basingstoke : : Macmillan. .

[21] Higgott R A. . 1983. . Political Development Theory: The Contemporary Debate . , London : : Croom Helm. .

[22] Himmelstrand U, Kinyanjui K and Mburugu E. , eds. 1994. . African Perspectives on Development: Controversies Dilemmas and Openings . , London : : James Currey. .

[23] Huntington SP. . 1968. . Political Order in Changing Societies . , New Haven : : Yale University Press. .

[24] 1971. . ‘The Change to Change: Modernisation, Development and Politics’. . Comparative Politics . , Vol. 4((3))

[25] 1984. . ‘Will More Countries Become Democratic?’. . Political Science Quarterly . , Vol. 99((2))

[26] 1991. . The Third Wave: Democratisation in the Late Twentieth Century . , Norman : : Oklahoma University Press. .

[27] Nelson J M. . 1976. . No Easy Choice . , Cambridge : : Havard University Press. .

[28] Hyden G and Bratton M. , eds. 1992. . Governance and Politics in Africa . , Boulder & London : : Lynne Rienner. .

[29] Joseph R A. . 1987. . “‘Democracy and Prebendal Politics’. ”. In Nigeria: The Rise and Fall of the Second Republic . , Cambridge : : Cambridge University Press. .

[30] Legum C. . 1986. . “‘Democracy in Africa: Hopes and Trends’. ”. In Democracy and Pluralism in Africa . , Edited by: Ronen D. . Boulder : : Lynne Rienner. .

[31] Midgal J. . 1988. . Strong Societies and Weak States: State‐Society Relations and State Capabilities in the Third World . , Princeton : : Princeton University Press. .

[32] Mkandawire T. . 1994. . “‘Adjustment, Political Conditionality and Democratisation in Africa’. ”. In From Adjustment to Development in Africa: Conflict, Controversy, Convergence, Consensus? . , Edited by: Cornia G A and Helleiner G K. . New York : : St Martin's Press. .

[33] Nzongola‐Ntalaja. . 1987. . Revolution and Counter‐Revolution in Africa: Essays in Contemporary Politics . , London : : IAA/Zed). .

[34] O'Donnell G and Schmitter P. . 1986. . Transitions from Authoritarian Rule: Tentative Conclusions about Uncertain Democracies . , Baltimore : : John Hopkins University Press. .

[35] Olukoshi A O. , ed. 1993. . The Politics of Structural Adjustment in Nigeria . , London : : James Currey. .

[36] Onimode B. . 1991. . “‘Transcending the Politics of Adjustment’. ”. In Debt and Democracy, 3: Alternative Strategies for Africa . , London : : IFAA. .

[37] Osaghae E E. , ed. 1994. . Between State and Civil Society in Africa: Perspectives on Development . , Dakar : : CODESRIA. .

[38] Ould‐Mey M. . 1994. . ‘Global Adjustment: Implications for Peripheral States’. . Third World Quarterly . , Vol. 15((2))

[39] Oyovbaire SE. . 1983. . “‘The Tyranny of Borrowed Paradigms and the Responsibility of Political Science: The Nigerian Experience’. ”. In Political Science in Africa: A Critical Reader . , Edited by: Barongo Y R. . London : : Zed. .

[40] Rotberg R I. , ed. 1988. . Africa in the 1990s and Beyond: US Policy Opportunities and Choices . , Algonac, Michigan : : Reference Publications. .

[41] Rothchild D and Chazan N. , eds. 1988. . The Precarious Balance: State and Society in Africa . , Boulder : : Westview Press. .

[42] Rustow D A. . 1970. . ‘Transitions to Democracy: Towards a Dynamic Model’. . Comparative Politics . , Vol. 2((3))

[43] Sklar R L and Whitaker C S. , eds. 1991. . African Politics and Problems in Development . , Boulder : : Lynne Rienner. .

[44] Slater R O, Schutz B M and Dorr S R. , eds. 1993. . Global Transformation and the Third World . , Boulder : : Lynne Reinner. .

[45] Stepan A. . 1990. . ‘On the Tasks of a Democratic Opposition’. . Journal of Democracy . , Vol. 1((2))

[46] Vanhanen T. . 1990. . The Process of Democratisation: A Comparative Study of 147 States, 1980–88 . , New York : : Crane Russak. .

[47] Weiner M and Huntington S P. , eds. 1987. . Understanding Political Development . , Boston : : Little, Brown. .

[48] Welch C E. . 1988. . “‘Obstacles to Disengagement and Democratisation:Military Regimes in Benin and Burkina Faso’. ”. In The Decline of Military Regimes: The Civilian Influence . , Edited by: Danopoulos C. . Boulder : : Westview. .

[49] Widner J A. , ed. 1994. . Economic Change and Political Liberalization in Sub‐Saharan Africa . , Baltimore : : John Hopkins University Press. .

[50] Wignaraja P. , ed. 1993. . New Social Movements in the South: Empowering the People . , London : : Zed. .

[51] Wilbert C K. , ed. 1973. . The Political Economy of Development and Underdevelopment . , New York : : Random House. .

[52] Wiseman J A. . 1990. . Democracy in Black Africa: Survival and Revival . , New York : : Paragon House. .

Review of African Political Economy

The study of political transitions in Africa

Journal

Affiliations

Article

History

Page count

Categories

Comment on this article