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Since the late 1980s, the changing dynamic of global development has driven the tide of democratic expansion in the developing world. In Africa, western donors have sought to impose "neo-liberal" visions of socio-economic and political institution-building, spreading political reforms and economic liberalization with far-reaching consequences. Associated with external interventions, but also sometimes conflicting with them, are internal protests against authoritarianism, which have problematically reinforced and/or undermined the donor agenda for democratic reform.Here Usman Tar questions the assumption that Africa was lacking the essential components for a spontaneous transition to democracy. He explores the dynamic, but contradictory, links between external and internal dimensions of neo-liberal democratic expansion in Africa, focusing on Nigeria. Tar dissects the struggles for democracy, and for democratic policy and practice in a country with rich economic potential, but a troubled political dispensation.
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THE POLITICS OF NEOLIBERAL DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA Usman A. Tar completed his PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies at the Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford. He is Lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, and has held teaching and research positions at the Africa Centre, Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford. He is Managing Editor of the journal Information, Society and Justice and a member of the editorial board of the Review of African Political Economy. He has previously served as contributing editor to Peace, Conflict and Development. His research interests include international relations; politics of development; peace, conflict and security; governance and democracy; state, civil society and citizenship. THE POLITICS OF NEOLIBERAL DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA State and Civil Society in Nigeria USMAN A. TAR Tauris Academic Studies LONDON • NEW YORK Published in 2009 by Tauris Academic Studies, An imprint of I.B.Tauris & Co Ltd 6 Salem Road, London W2 4BU 175 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10010 www.ibtauris.com In the United States of America and Canada, distributed by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10010 Copyright © 2009 Usman A. Tar The right of Usman A. Tar to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or any part thereof, may not be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. International Library of African Studies 22 ISBN: 978 1 84511 656 9 A full CIP record for this book is available from the British Library A full CIP record is available from the Library of Congress Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: available Printed and bound in India by Thomson Press Ltd From camera-ready copy supplied by Oxford Publishing Services To Fatima and our children – Mustapha, Abubakar and Aisha – for being great companions. And, to our extended families for all the unconditional support. Contents List of Tables and Figures Abbreviations Acknowledgements Preface Maps Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 viii ix xii xiv xvii 1 Global and Local Discourses: Civil Society and the Achievements of Democracy 17 External and Internal Dimensions of Democratic Expansion: Towards a Synergy 54 The Evolution of Civil Society: Contemporary Character and Democratic Potentials 89 Confrontations with the State: Labour Movements and Civic Associations 127 Civil Society and Electoral