Civil Society and Democracy in Africa: Critical Perspectives

A careful and broad critique of the conventional wisdom in applying the concept of civil society to politics in sub-Saharan Africa, and particularly to democratization. It examines the ideological roots of the conventional concept, the reasons for the failure of civil society actors, such as the churches, to play their expected roles, the exclusion of marginalized actors, the inability of civil society organizations to act independently of the state and the failure of civil society to contribute effectively to democratizing the African state.