The concept of democracy has remained central in most academic and political discourse on African development. Beyond the state-centric model of democracy, what alternative approaches are open to African states and how could they enhance the nature of state-society relations and the process of economic development? While this question informs the general thesis as well as the specific arguments advanced in this article, suffice it then to state that Africa’s peculiar condition presents a case not so much about transitions to democracy (since these have been attempted in many cases) but about the consolidation of enduring democracies. The missing link is in the acquisition of critical institutional capital that would facilitate a systemic shift from traditional models of development to more pragmatic and integrative approaches. In order of priority, what Africa needs most are institutional reconstruction, state consolidation, and democratic governance.
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