Myths of Peace and Democracy Towards Bu

Towards Building Pillars of Hope, Unity and Transformation in Africa

Munyaradzi Mawere, Ngonidzashe Marongwe, Munyaradzi Mawere, Ngonidzashe Marongwe

• Publisher: Langaa RPCIG
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN:
  9789956763900
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9789956764600
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Democracy
• Index: Politics & International Relations

The myths of peace and democracy in Africa are at the heart of this volume. Democracy and peace have become buzz words across postcolonial Africa. The gospel of democracy and peace is preached by national governments and by civil society and international organisations alike. But to what extent are the ongoing sideshows and charades of quasi-oligarchies in Africa really democracy? What do ordinary Africans mean when they hunger and thirst for democracy and peace? Positive and noble as the loud sounding rhetoric about democracy and peace in Africa might seem, the reality of propaganda and dissemblance and of multi-dimensional violence are simply too overwhelming not to be disillusioning. This book interrogates the rampant violence, enduring conflicts, autocratic governance, and facades of democracy amidst claims and calls for enduring peace on the continent. This is a monumental resource book for human rights activists, conflict management practitioners, civil society activists, political scientists, statesmen and development practitioners. It poses a challenge to those African governments who claim to embrace principles of democracy and respect for human rights to rethink and reconsider their role as ambassadors of peace, hope, transformation, and good governance.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright page
• List of Contributors
• Contents
• Chapter One - Democracy, Violence and Peace in One House: The Dilemma of Post-colonial Africa
• Chapter Two - From Victims to Agents:Zimbabweans and Xenophobic Violence in Post-Apartheid South Africa
• Chapter Three - Ethnicity, Xenophobic Attacks and Counter-attacks in Africa
• Chapter Four - Social Support and the Violence of Individualistic Ontologies: Insights from Namibian Female and Male Youths’ Experiences
• Chapter Five - Enhancing Democracy and Surmounting the Challenges of Election Management in Africa: Insights from Nigeria
• Chapter Six - Violence and the Politics of the Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai’s (MDC-T) Mobilisation and Continued Survival, 1999-2014
• Chapter Seven - ‘Mere Paper Covering the Cracks?’ The Case of South Africa’s Mediation Role in Zimbabwe’s crisis, 2008-2013
• Chapter Eight - Two Party ‘de facto’ and the Future of Democracy in Africa: The Nigerian Experience
• Chapter Nine - Xenophobic Violence and the future of intra-African Relations: The Case of post- apartheid South Africa
• Chapter Ten - ‘Third World’ Elections, Peace and Democracy: Lessons from Selected African Countries
• Chapter Eleven - A Phenomenological Impact and Legacy of the Military on Africa Democratic Experiment: The Nigeria’s Example since 1966
• Chapter Twelve - Intra- and Inter-party Violence in Africa: Narratives and Reflections from Zimbabwe
• Chapter Thirteen - Symbolic Violence and Troubled Citizenship: Re-imagining Xenophobia and Foreignness in Post-colonial Zimbabwe
• Chapter Fourteen - Peace Education and Peace Culture: Panaceas for Sustainable Peace and Security in Nigeria
• References
• Back cover