Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: democratization against the odds -- Fragments of democracy: participation & control in authoritarian Africa -- Cultures of resistance: civil society & the limits of power -- The second liberation: economic decline, the Cold War & democratization -- Exporting elections: international donors & the era of democratic dependency -- Subverting democracy: the advantages of incumbency & the politics of violence -- The democratic dividend: political competition, populism, and public policy -- Conclusion: designing democracy to manage diversity and distrust -- Appendix 1. the fate of Africa's democratic experiments 1989-2000.