Managing Conflicts in Africa's Democratic Transitions

Akanmu G. Adebayo is professor of history and interim director of the Center for Conflict Management at Kennesaw State University (KSU), Kennesaw, Georgia. He was also formerly executive director of the Institute for Global Initiatives at KSU. He received his education at the University of Ife (renamed Obafemi Awolowo University) and earned his PhD in history, focusing on economic history. He is author, co-author, and co-editor of many books, and his articles have been published in many scholarly journals. His most recent publications include a co-edited book Marginality and Crisis: Globalization and Identity in Contemporary Africa (Lexington Books, 2010), and a monograph In the Sphere of the Dragon: China’s Economic Relations with Africa in the New Millennium (Ibadan School of History Monograph Series, 2010). In addition, he is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Global Initiatives.

Democratization unfolds in three logical phases: ‘democratic opening’ which is marked by the collapse of an authoritarian regime; ‘democratic transition’ which is usually associated with the conduct of a credible election, and; ‘democratic consolidation’ evidenced by the entrenchment of democratic ethos of fairly permanent basis. The provocative and innovative papers in this book present Africa as a continent caught in seemingly perpetual ‘democratic transition’; it is a continent lacking in strong capacity to consolidate democratic governance. Departing remarkably from the synchronic analyses of the past, the publication adopts a diachronic approach in reviewing the factors responsible for this problem and the efforts being made to deal with the disturbing situations. In particular, the book interrogates the adversarial and non-adversarial strategies for managing the problems associated with democratic transitions in the continent. These well treated issues take us to the heart of a major factor in contemporary Africa’s underdevelopment. A key lesson from the publication is that as long as Africa fails to arrive at actionable strategies for managing its election disputes, it would continue to be a battle ground for domestic and international conflict entrepreneurs. Suggestions are made on how to improve the situation. This makes the book to be of significant academic and policy interest. Students of peace and conflict studies, political science, history, sociology and development workers would find the book to be extremely useful.

• Part One: Understanding Africa’s Democratization, Elections, and ConflictsChapter 1: Dreams and Nightmares: Democratization, Elections, and Conflicts in Africa Chux Ibekwe and Akanmu G. AdebayoChapter 2: Security in Post-Civil War Democratic Transitions in AfricaAbiodun Alao and Mike AdeyeyeChapter 3: Traumatics: The Representation of Trauma in Yvonne Vera’s Without a NameOumar Cherif DiopPart Two: Domestic and International Issues and ActorsChapter 4: Democratization and Post-Election Conflicts in Nigeria since Independence: A Historical ReconsiderationOluwakemi Abiodun AdesinaChapter 5: Incumbency as a Factor: Appropriation of State Security Resources and Electoral Governance in Nigeria’Lai OlurodeChapter 6: Religion and Political Activism in EgyptSamy GergesChapter 7: Democratization in Senegal: The Failure of the “Sopi” RevolutionHaluk B. Bingol and Richard VengroffChapter 8: The Involution of Democracy in Lusophone West AfricaBrandon D. LundyChapter 9: Conflict Analysis of the 2007 Post-election Violence in KenyaMara J. RobertsChapter 10: The French Press and Position on Post-Election Crisis in Côte d’IvoireEdoh AgbehonouChapter 11: United States Foreign Policy Responses to Africa’s Transition ConflictsAndrew EwohPart Three: Conflict Resolution OptionsChapter 12: Post-Election Conflict Resolution in Africa: Lessons from African Peace ParadigmsAbdul Karim BanguraChapter 13: An African Model? Conflict Management in Ghana’s 2008 Presidential ElectionsJoseph Kingsley AdjeiChapter 14: Lessons from South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for Managing Africa’s ConflictsEdward L. MienieChapter 15: Could Forgiveness and Amnesty Be a Panacea to Kenya’s Post-Election Conflict Era?Joseph W. Nasongo, Lydiah L. M. Wamocha, and Judith S. K. AchokaChapter 16: Establishing Electoral Conflict Management Panels: A Case Study of South AfricaIlona TipChapter 17: Post-Electoral Conflict in la Côte d’Ivoire: Road Map to PeaceSarah O. Danso