Post-Conflict Institutional Design: Peacebuilding and Democracy in Africa (Peace Studies / Africa)

Since gaining independence from colonial rule, most African countries have been struggling to build democratic and peaceful states. While African multiparty politics may be viewed as a democratic system of governance, in reality it is plagued by ethnic and regional political grievances that undermine meaningful democracy. By examining post-conflict institutional reforms in several African countries, this book sheds light on the common causes of violent conflicts and how institutional design can affect the conditions for peace and democracy in Africa. Focussing on conceptual and practical questions of designing ethnically and regionally inclusive state institutions and the way institutions are perceived by the citizenry Post-Conflict Institutional Design addresses political autonomy and control over resources, issues which are often key sources of ethnic and regional grievances. Crucially, it examines the meanings of institutional reforms as well ethnic and regional representation. "Since gaining independence from colonial rule, most African countries have been struggling to build democratic and peaceful states. While African multiparty politics may be viewed as democratic system of governance, in reality it is plagued by ethnic and regional political grievances that undermine meaningful democracy. Even though ethnicity and regionalism are not the only reasons for political violence, as often pointed out in the greed-grievance literature, they are key instruments for mobilization and organizing political violence in the service of elite interest. By examining the post-conflict institutional reforms in several African countries, this book will not only shed light on the common causes of violent conflicts, but more importantly how institutional designs can affect the conditions for peace and democracy in Africa. As such, the book, focuses on conceptual and practical questions of designing ethnically and regionally inclusive state institutions and the way institutions are perceived by the citizenry. In particular, it addresses the issues of political autonomy and control over resources, which are often key sources of ethnic and regional grievances and demands for political autonomy. Moreover, it examined the symbolic and everyday meanings of institutional reforms and the overarching questions of institutional choices and ethnic and regional representation." --Amazon.com. Since gaining independence from colonial rule, most African countries have been struggling to build democratic and peaceful states. While African multiparty politics may be viewed as a democratic system of governance, in reality it is plagued by ethnic and regional political grievances that undermine meaningful democracy.By examining post-conflict institutional reforms in several African countries, this book sheds light on the common causes of violent conflicts and how institutional design can affect the conditions for peace and democracy in Africa. Focussing on conceptual and practical questions of designing ethnically and regionally inclusive state institutions and the way institutions are perceived by the citizenry Post-Conflict Institutional Design addresses political autonomy and control over resources, issues which are often key sources of ethnic and regional grievances. Crucially, it examines the meanings of institutional reforms as well ethnic and regional representation. Political Science,World,African,Peace,Social Science,Developing & Emerging Countries,Education,Higher 1: Introduction: Institutional Design, Peacebuilding, and Democracy -Abu Bakarr Bah -- 2: The African Human Rights System and the Right to Autonomy - Niklas Hultin -- 3: Democracy, Postwar Transition and Peacebuilding in Music Videos From Uganda -Okaka Opio Dokotum -- 4: Harnessing Memory Institutions for Peace and Justice: The Case of South Africa - David Mwambari & Iris Nxumalo -- 5: Natural Resource Reforms in Postwar Liberia and Sierra Leone: Contradictions and Tensions - Michael D. Beevers -- 6: Devolution and Electoral Violence in Kenya - Aditi Malik -- 7: Institutional Design, Democracy, and Peacebuilding in Africa - Abu Bakarr Bah & Fredrick Ogenga Examines the redesign of state institutions in post-war African countries arguing for a more consociational approach to peacebuilding and democracy.