Public Opinion, Democracy, and Market Reform in Africa (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics)

This book is a fascinating exploration of public opinion in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on the Afrobarometer, a comprehensive cross-national survey research project, it reveals what ordinary Africans think about democracy and market reform, subjects on which almost nothing is otherwise known. The authors find that support for democracy in Africa is wide but shallow and that Africans feel trapped between state and market. Beyond multiparty elections, people want clean and accountable government. They will accept economic structural adjustment only if it is accompanied by an effective state, the availability of jobs, and an equitable society. What are the origins of these attitudes? Far from being constrained by social structure and cultural values, Africans learn about reform on the basis of knowledge, reasoning, and experience. Weighing supply and demand for reform, the authors reach cautious conclusions about the varying prospects of African countries for attaining fully-fledged democracy and markets.0 This Book Is A Ground-breaking Exploration Of Public Opinion In Sub-saharan Africa. Based On The Afrobarometer, A Comprehensive Cross-national Survey Research Project, It Reveals What Ordinary Africans Think Of Democracy And Market Reform, Subjects About Which Almost Nothing Is Otherwise Known.--jacket. Framework -- Africa's Hybrid Regimes -- Studying Public Opinion In Africa -- Popular Attitudes To Reform -- Attitudes To Democracy -- Attitudes To A Market Economy -- Economic And Political Behavior -- Competing Explanations -- The Structure Of Society -- Cultural Values -- Awareness Of Public Affairs -- Performance Evaluations -- Institutional Influences -- Explaining Reform Constituencies -- Predicting Political Participation -- Deciphering Regime Consolidation. Michael Bratton, Robert Mattes, E. Gyimah-boadi. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 401-455) And Index.

Based on the Afrobarometer, a survey research project, this examination of public opinion in sub-Saharan Africa reveals what ordinary Africans think about democracy and market reforms, subjects on which almost nothing is otherwise known. The authors reveal that widespread support for democracy in Africa is shallow and that Africans consequently feel trapped between state and market. Although they are learning about reform through knowledge and experience, it is assumed that few countries are likely to attain full-fledged democratic market status anytime soon.

This book is a fascinating exploration of public opinion in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on the Afrobarometer, a survey research project, it reveals what ordinary Africans think about democracy and market reforms, subjects on which almost nothing is otherwise known.