Richard Sandbrook Knihy

It is a truism that many African countries face a three-pronged tribulation--political tyranny; failed capitalist development; and violent domestic conflict. The relationship between effective democratic institutions, successful development and civil peace is less clear. This book analyzes the experience with democratization of a carefully selected sample of countries: Ghana, Mali, and Niger in West Africa; Zambia, Tanzania, and Madagascar in East Africa; and Sudan.

Focusing on social-democratic regimes in the developing world, the book examines how these nations reconcile global market growth with the expansion of rights. Through a comparative analysis of Kerala, Costa Rica, Mauritius, and Chile since 1990, the authors reveal that significant social progress is possible despite a global economic system favoring industrialized countries. They argue that pragmatic social-democratic movements have fostered conditions for success, enabling these countries to maintain or improve social achievements even amid the rise of neoliberalism.

A fresh appraisal of the nature and significance of the democratic left in the Global South.