Open access version available.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Democratic backsliding in Africa? Autocratization, resilience, and contention / Leonardo R. Arriola, Lise Rakner, and Nicolas van de Walle -- 2. Political participation and regime responses / Kendra Dupuy, Leonardo R. Arriola, and Lise Rakner -- 3. Legal strategies : constitutional, administrative, judicial, and discursive lawfare / Siri Gloppen, Thalia Gerzso, and Nicolas van de Walle -- 4. International strategies : sovereignty claims and selective compliance / Lise Rakner and Nicolas van de Walle -- 5. Ghana : a stagnated democratic trajectory / Franklin Oduro, Lisa-Marie Selvik, and Kendra Dupuy -- 6. Kenya : executive dominance through constitutional bargaining / Matthew K. Gichohi and Leonardo R. Arriola -- 7. Malawi : democratic fits and starts / Siri Gloppen, Fidelis Kanyongolo, Fiona Shen-Bayh, and Vibeke Wang -- 8. Zambia : backsliding in a presidential regime / Marja Hinfelaar, Lise Rackner, and Nicolas van de Walle -- 9. Uganda : a story of persistent autocratic rule / Sabiti Makara and Vigeke Wang -- 10. Zimbabwe : contested autocratization / Siri Gloppen, Marja Hinfelaar, and Lise Rakner -- 11. Conclusion / Leonardo R. Arriola, Lise Rakner, and Nicolas van de Walle.

"Why have most African countries not achieved greater political liberalization? What explains the lack of progress toward the ideals of liberal democracy across the region? This book advances ongoing debates on democratic backsliding with specific reference to Africa. In examining how incumbent leaders in African countries attempt to contain societal pressures for greater democracy, the chapters explain how governments go beyond the standard tools of manipulation, such as electoral fraud and political violence, to keep democracy from unfolding in their countries. The book emphasizes two distinct strategies that governments frequently use to reinforce their hold on power - the legal system and the international system - but which remain overlooked in conventional analyses; it also documents how governments employ the law to limit the scope of action among citizens and civil society activists struggling to expand democratic liberties, including the use of constitutional provisions and the courts. The work further demonstrates how governments use their role in international relations to neutralize pressure from external actors, including sovereigntist claims against foreign intervention and selective implementation of donor-promoted policies. While pro-democracy actors can also employ these legal and international strategies to challenge incumbents, in some cases to prevent democratic backsliding, the book shows why and how incumbents have enjoyed institutional advantages when implementing these strategies through six country case studies of Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe." -- Provided by publisher.