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Civil challenge and democratic transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1991-2000

Moulta-Ali, Umar

Abstract Details

2005, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Sociology.
Theories of democratization have primarily centered on the impact of state political institutions, economic development, and international influences. The current study introduces the civil society dynamic by examining how civil challenge (characterized by nonviolent protest and civil violence) influences the introduction of a country’s first free-and-fair elections. Focusing on sub-Saharan Africa using a comparable cases design, I use event history methods to examine the 32 democratic transitions that occurred in sub-Saharan Africa between 1991 and 2000. Results indicate that nonviolent protest and civil violence are important predictors of the introduction of free-and-fair elections in non-democracies. In addition, membership in the Franc Zone and the British Commonwealth also facilitate democratic transitions. Conversely, regional diffusion has a negative effect on transitions, likely due to repressive responses to neighboring democracies. Net of civil challenge explanations, other factors such as percent Muslim, government legitimacy, prior democratic experience, economic development and foreign aid are not relevant within this region and time period. Further research should focus on the salience of civil challenge factors in promoting the extension of civil liberties and the consolidation of political democracy.
J. Craig Jenkins (Advisor)
Katherine Meyer (Committee Member)
Kazimierz Slomczynski (Committee Member)
49 p.

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Citations

  • Moulta-Ali, U. (2005). Civil challenge and democratic transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1991-2000 [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407407776

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Moulta-Ali, Umar. Civil challenge and democratic transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1991-2000. 2005. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407407776.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Moulta-Ali, Umar. "Civil challenge and democratic transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1991-2000." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407407776

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)