Political Openness in Post Authoritarian Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Domestic and External Pressure to Conformity

Abstract

More than two decades after the third wave of global democratization broke on Africa’s shores starting in 1985,1 there is ample evidence that the extent to which these African states have imbibed democratic principles is mixed. The process of political reform or democratization at
best has been a very long-term, complicated and messy affair. Awide variety of states has headed along the path from authoritarianism towards, ostensibly, democracy. Some states, like South Africa and Benin, have transitioned quite well. Many others like Togo have faltered, and some like Gambia have collapsed back into authoritarianism. This combination of outcomes of democratization in Africa