Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nationalism, one-party states, and military rule / Nic Cheeseman -- Federalism and decentralization / Rotimi T. Suberu -- The rule of law and the courts / Peter VonDoepp -- Security and the privatization of force and violence / Rita Abrahamsen -- Neopatrimonialism and political regimes / Gero Erdmann -- The informal practices of civil servants / Jean-Pierre Olivier de Sardan -- Class politics / Bill Freund -- The politics of ethnicity / Gabrielle Lynch -- Autochthony and the politics of belonging / Peter Geschiere -- Religion and politics / Stephen Ellis and Gerrie ter Haar -- Muslim politics in West Africa / Leonardo A. Villalón -- Women in politics / Amina Mama -- Civil war / Philip Roessler -- Oil politics / Ricardo Soares de Oliveira -- Power-sharing / Andreas Mehler -- Post-conflict peacebuilding / Devon Curtis -- Transitional justice after atrocity / Phil Clark -- Electoral authoritarianism and multi-party politics / Nicolas van de Walle -- The power of elections / Staffan I. Lindberg -- Emerging legislatures / Joel D. Barkan -- Political parties / Matthijs Bogaards -- Public opinion and democratic consolidation / Michael Bratton -- Aid, trade, investment, and dependency / Martin Williams -- Social policy / Jeremy Seekings -- NGOs / Michael Jennings -- The economy of affection / Göran Hydén -- The politics of development / Tim Kelsall -- Africa and the global economy / Richard E. Mshomba -- Pan-Africanism and regional integration / Gilbert M. Khadiagala -- Terrorism, security, and the state / Ken Menkhaus -- Democracy promotion / Stephen Brown -- China and Africa / Chris Alden.