Democracy Works: Rewiring Politics to Africa’s Advantage

Please join the Atlantic Council for the launch of Democracy Works: Rewiring Politics to Africa’s Advantage.

International actors have invested a lot in elections in Africa, but have often failed to ensure free and fair processes, as demonstrated by substantial failings in elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2019, Zimbabwe in 2008, and Kenya in 2007. Ensuring the credibility of the democratic process is becoming even more difficult, as targeted disinformation campaigns, restrictions on press freedoms, and internet shutdowns are employed by authoritarian regimes across the world. These new tactics pose particular challenges to African nations that are experiencing an exploding youth population. The rising incidence of street-born revolutions demonstrates the lack of patience with traditional democratic processes. New ideas for promoting democracy have been in short supply, but these four authors—former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, Greg Mills, Jeffrey Herbst, and former Zimbabwean finance minister Tendai Biti—have attempted to identify a path for leaders and citizens who want to address the extreme demographic, economic, and security challenges that Africa faces with democratic solutions.

We hope you can join us for this timely discussion. Copies of this book will be available to purchase at the event with cash only.