John F. Clark is assistant professor of international relations at Florida International University. David E. Gardinier is professor of history at Marquette University.

• Introduction -- Historical and Theoretical Perspectives -- The Historical Origins of Francophone Africa -- The Challenges of Political Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Theoretical Overview -- Cases of Peaceful Regime Change -- Benin: First of the New Democracies -- Congo: Transition and the Struggle to Consolidate -- Niger: Regime Change, Economic Crisis, and Perpetuation of Privilege -- The Central African Republic: Political Reform and Social Malaise -- Old Faces, Moderate Reforms -- Burkina Faso: The "Rectification" of the Revolution -- Gabon: Limited Reform and Regime Survival -- Cameroon: Biya and Incremental Reform -- Cote d'Ivoire: Continuity and Change in a Semi-Democracy -- Senegal: The Evolution of a Quasi Democracy -- Opposition Without Reform -- Togo: The National Conference and Stalled Reform -- Zaire: Flying High Above the Toads: Mobutu and Stalemated Democracy -- Civil War and Political Change -- Chad: Regime Change, Increased Insecurity, and Blockage of Further Reforms -- Rwanda: Democratization and Disorder: Political Transformation and Social Deterioration