Democratic Development in Africa

The last three decades have seen states in Africa, alongside states around the world, experiment with democracy to varying degrees. Scholarship on the successes and struggle among these democratic attempts suggest certain factors influence the transitions to and consolidation of democracy. These factors include structural and contingent factors, national vs. international factors, and economic vs. political factors. Yet there are still unknown influences on democracy. My research seeks to understand the call for democracy and the reasons why some citizens are pro-democracy and others aren’t, what neopatrimonialism is and the implications that it has on society. Lastly, understand how informal policies affect the nation and the many Africans who are fighting for democracy.