Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics: How the Internet Era is Transforming Kenya

More and more African countries are falling prey to civil war and the disintegration of government authority and social order. Here, for the first time, teams of African scholars based in those countries principally affected examine what is happening. Their findings are only the first step in an ongoing, policy-relevant process of investigation and action. They share a belief that a development agenda designed to improve the lives of the people and strengthen national economies cannot be effectively pursued until the continent masters its problems of governance. The first aim of these scholars has been to understand the complex and diverse roots of the conflicts. To this end, they analyse a cross-section of such conflicts from various countries — Angola, Burundi and Rwanda, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Somalia and Somaliland. They also reflect more generally on the obstacles to comprehending conflict in Africa. Possible ways of anticipating, containing and indeed preventing new conflicts are discussed. The experience of successful transitions to peace are investigated in a number of cases, including Northern Mali and Nigeria after its civil war of 1967-70, as are issues such as the part played by NGOs in Rwanda and the role of regional and international cooperation. There is also much discussion of what new research is needed and proposals for mastering conflict in future. These range over a wide diversity of measures, including, for example, ideas like a moratorium on the importation of arms, trans-frontier development projects, political reform that creates real space for effective participation by different social groups, and governmental decentralisation. This volume, which is ACDESS’s first output under this research programme, represents a significant contribution by African intellectuals to resolving the most intractable problems confronting Sub-Saharan Africa. Its appearance could not be more timely. Author: Adebayo Adedeji ISBN:9781856497633

Why does this remote swathe of Sahara along the Atlantic seaboard concern the USA and Europe? Why does Morocco maintain its occupation? Why has the UN Security Council prevaricated for three decades while the Sahrawis live under Moroccan rule or as refugees? In this revealing book, Toby Shelley examines the geopolitics involved. He brings out: The little-known struggle of Sahrawis living under Moroccan rule to defend their identity. USA/European competition for influence in the Maghreb. The natural resources at stake — rich fishing grounds, phosphates, and the prospect of oil. The reasons behind the UN failure to resolve what is now Africa’s last decolonisation issue. The evolution of the USA-backed Baker Plan to settle the dispute. How the Western Sahara’s history and future is tangled up with Moroccan–Algerian rivalry. The political development of Polisario, independence movement and state-in-waiting. Toby Shelley has talked to Polisario, Moroccan, Algerian and other diplomats. He has visited the territory and had access to opposition activists and Moroccan officials. In the refugee camps he interviewed the leadership of Polisario. What emerges is that the fate of the Western Sahara is being moulded by global and regional forces and that it is the Sahrawis under Moroccan rule who are best placed to influence that fate. Author: Toby Shelley ISBN:9781842773413

In recent years, China and India have become the most important economic partners of Africa and their footprints are growing by leaps and bounds, transforming Africa’s international relations in a dramatic way. Although the overall impact of China and India’s engagement in Africa has been positive in the short-term, partly as a result of higher returns from commodity exports fuelled by excessive demands from both countries, little research exists on the actual impact of China and India’s growing involvement on Africa’s economic transformation. This book examines in detail the opportunities and challenges posed by the increasing presence of China and India in Africa, and proposes critical interventions that African governments must undertake in order to negotiate with China and India from a stronger and more informed platform. Author: Fantu Cheru, Cyril Obi ISBN:9781848134379