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Major Challenges of Governance in Africa Today

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Democracy, Constitutionalism, and Politics in Africa

Part of the book series: Contemporary African Political Economy ((CONTAPE))

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Abstract

In a critical study of the postcolonial state in Africa, Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja examines four major challenges of democratic and developmental governance in the continent. This is done in a comprehensive analysis of nation building as a process of consolidating democratic rights through the rule of law, full citizenship, and access to a higher standard of living for all. In order to meet these three challenges, the challenge of state capacity building for effective governance must be met as well. This requires democratizing the state, modernizing the civil service, cleaning up and retraining revenue collection agencies, transforming law enforcement agencies from repressive to protective services, and strengthening economic and social development agencies for purposes of eradicating poverty.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of African, African American, and Diaspora Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja

Authors
  1. Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Eunice N. Sahle

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© 2017 The Author(s)

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Nzongola-Ntalaja, G. (2017). Major Challenges of Governance in Africa Today. In: Sahle, E. (eds) Democracy, Constitutionalism, and Politics in Africa. Contemporary African Political Economy. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55592-2_8

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