African Political Parties

Evolution, Institutionalisation and Governance

M. A. Mohamed Salih

• Publisher: Pluto Press
• Year: 2003
• Print ISBN:
  9780745320380
  9780745320380
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781849641791
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Global Development Studies
• Index: Social Sciences

This book interrogates the political health of African political parties and evaluates the theory and practice of party functions, ideology and structure. Through fresh analysis using a variety of case studies, the authors question the democratic credentials of African political parties and propose new methods for achieving inclusive, broad-based representation. Themes include the evolution and institutionalisation of African political parties; the unique historical, political and social circumstances that shaped their structures and functions. In the governance trajectory, the authors question the relationship between African political parties and government; political parties and representation; political parties and electoral systems; and political parties and parliament. Case studies include Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and many others.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Introduction: The Evolution of African Political Parties
• 1 Democratic Transition and the Crises of an African Nationalist Party: UNIP, Zambia
• 2 Chama Cha Mapinduzi ( CCM): A Revolutionary Party in Transition, Tanzania
• 3 When Political Parties Fail: Sudan's Democratic Conundrum
• 4 Party Politics and Political Culture in Ethiopia
• 5 Political Parties and Democracy in Independent Namibia
• 6 Political Parties, Party Systems and Democracy in Sub- Saharan Africa
• 7 Power and Competition: The Institutional Context of African Multi- Party Politics
• 8 Political Parties and Democratic Sustainability in Ghana, 1992-2000
• 9 Sustainability of Political Parties in Kenya
• 10 Political Parties and Governance
• 11 Political Parties and Government
• 12 Political Parties and Democratic Governance in Botswana
• 13 Multi- Party Politics and Elections in Southern Africa: Realities and Imageries
• 14 Conclusions
• Contributors
• Index