Politics in Publications

October 2009 Download PDF Tanzania and Senegal have long records of political stability. Both made peaceful transitions from single-party ‘African socialism’ to multiparty democracy, becoming favourites with foreign donors and development agencies. Recent elections were declared...

East Africa’s most populous nation has been a beacon of political stability in a troubled region. Yet for most of Tanzania’s post-independence history, ethnic and religious tolerance has been underpinned by the dominant governing party Chama Cha Mapinduzi. An...

The resignation of former president Thabo Mbeki can be seen as the ending of a “First Republic” in democratic South Africa. The liberal left tradition of the governing African National Congress is fading, and the “Second Republic” will be shaped by more...

Kenya is effectively partitioned by criminal and ethnic violence, triggered by the December 27th presidential ballot. The unrest threatens Kenya’s cohesion as a nation state, with sever consequences for its landlocked neighbours and the East African region. Evidence of...

Malawi is the most densely populated country in southern Africa. Without affordable fertiliser and other inputs, small farmers have struggled to grow enough food from over-cultivated soils. But after successive food crises, the government of Malawi acted against the advice of...

This briefing note compares economic and social policy in South Africa with Brazil. It argues that South Africa has followed a trajectory similar in many respects to Brazil, the dominant economy in South America. But the comparison highlights weaknesses in Pretoria and the ANC....

Life expectancy in Zimbabwe is the lowest in the world, but Zimbabweans across the political spectrum insist the country can recover from its crisis. The Day After Mugabe collects the views of key actors, commentators and policy experts. The contributors unravel what has gone...

A short briefing note on the current situation in Zimbabwe that has been sent to all members of parliament with an active interest in Africa. It argues that in developing a practical response to the crisis in Zimbabwe, British policy-makers must recognise the realistic prospect...

This briefing note argues that the United Nations has no option but to extend the role of MONUC when its current mandate is reviewed in December 2007, as recommended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. The international community is counting on Security Sector Reform (SSR) to...