Limits to liberation in southern Africa : the unfinished business of democratic consolidation

The essays in this volume focus primarily on the developing political contradiction in southern Africa, represented by the fact that movements like SWAPO and ZANU, which spearheaded mass popular struggles for liberation from colonial rule, have in power developed into authoritarian, undemocratic, and increasingly corrupt ruling regimes. In addition to the essays on Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Botswana, other works included consider the possible road ahead for South Africa in terms of democratic consolidation within the rising tension between civil society organizations and the ANC government, with its clear tendency toward the increasing centralization of its power and authority. Edited by former SWAPO member Henning Melber, its contributors include Kenneth Good, Suzanne Dansereau, and Amin Kamete (Zimbabwe); Ian Taylor and Francis B. Nyamnjoh (Botswana); Roger Southhall (Lesotho); Henning Melber (Namibia); Martin Legassick, Raymond Suther, and Krista Johnson (South Africa). The Analyses In This Collection Provide A Basis For A Debate That Is Becoming Increasingly Necessary: Has The Politics Of Liberation In Southern Africa Run Its Course. With Chapters On Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana And South Africa, The Contributors Pose A Number Of Critical Questions: Why Is It That 'post-liberation' Politics, Rather Than Leading To Participatory Democracy, Seem To Be Leading To Political Oppression And Decay? -- Are Liberation Politics Inherently Undemocratic, Or Are Current Tendencies Towards Authoritarianism An Outcome Of Other Forces? -- Is The Model Of Liberal Democracy Adopted By Post-liberation Societies Inherently Elitist, Lending Itself To The Effective Suppression Or Containment Of Popular Opinions And Aspirations? Introduction / Henning Melber -- Democracy And The Control Of Elites / Kenneth Good -- Liberation And Opposition In Zimbabwe / Suzanne Dansereau -- In Defence Of National Sovereignty? : Urban Governance And Democracy In Zimbabwe / Amin Kamete -- As Good As It Gets? : Botswana's Democratic Development / Ian Taylor -- Chieftaincy And The Negotiation Of Might And Right In Botswana's Democracy / Francis B. Nyamnjoh -- Between Competing Paradigms : Post-colonial Legitimacy In Lesotho / Roger Southall -- From Controlled Change To Change Control : The Case Of Namibia / Henning Melber -- Armed Struggle In South Africa : Consequences Of A Strategy Debate / Martin Legassick -- Culture(s) Of The African National Congress Of South Africa : Imprint Of Exile Experiences / Raymond Suttner -- Liberal Or Liberation Framework? : The Contradictions Of Anc Rule In South Africa / Krista Johnson. Edited By Henning Melber. Revised Versions Of Most Of The Papers Originally Presented At The Conference On '(re-)conceptualising Democracy And Liberation In Southern Africa', July 2002, Windhoek. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 5 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Acronyms......Page 10 Introduction: Henning Melber......Page 13 Democracy and the Control of Elites | Kenneth Good......Page 25 Liberation and Opposition in Zimbabwe | Suzanne Dansereau......Page 47 In Defence of National Sovereignty? Urban Governance and Democracy in Zimbabwe | Amin Kamete......Page 71 As Good as It Gets? Botswana’s “Democratic Development” | Ian Taylor......Page 96 Chieftaincy and the Negotiation of Might and Right in Botswana’s Democracy | Francis B. Nyamnjoh......Page 117 Between Competing Paradigms: Post-Colonial Legitimacy in Lesotho | Roger Southall......Page 139 From Controlled Change to Changed Control: The Case of Namibia | Henning Melber......Page 158 Armed Struggle in South Africa: Consequences of a Strategy Debate | Martin Legassick......Page 180 Culture(s) of the African National Congress of South Africa: Imprint of Exile Experiences | Raymond Suttner1......Page 202 Liberal or Liberation Framework? The Contradictions of ANC Rule in South Africa | Krista Johnson......Page 224 Contributors......Page 248 Index......Page 249 This ground-breaking collection of essays on Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana and South Africa opens a long-awaited debate on the transformation of some former liberation movements into authoritarian and elitist governments.