The Struggle of Democratisation against Authoritarianism in Contemporary Africa

This book discusses how the historical dimensions in Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa are similar: dominated by oppressive settler colonialism and authoritarian independent governments, their ruling elites characterised by greed and corruption.

Zimbabwe is outstandingly oppressive, plagued from the start by planned, regularised, ferocious, and unparalleled violence, as described in one chapter. Perpetrated by ZANU-PF and President Robert Mugabe, it targeted the organised urban poor. Hope arose when the trade unions created the MDC in Harare in 1999.

A chapter on South Africa is also included and outlines how a small ANC elite chose external armed struggle around 1960. Their campaign marooned thousands of young people in Angolan camps, for no military gains, and the neglect of domestic political development. A new and independent formation, the United Democratic Front, from 1983, tried to build a popular, non-racial participatory democracy. However, an intolerant ANC was determined on its supremacy, and Nelson Mandela suppressed the Front in 1991. No similar democratic aspiration has subsequently appeared.

Another country examined in this text is Tunisia, which, since 2010, has been totally different: utilising an organised civil society, a democratic Islamist party, and wide readiness to compromise, an open politics is being created against big odds.