African parliaments: between governance and government

Abstract

African Parliaments offers an indepth analysis of parliamentary development in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the continent's post 1990s democratic resurgence. In particular, it illustrates how African parliaments struggle to serve as part of the machinery of government while exercising the function of holding government accountable.

Salih and contributors present a penetrating contextual analysis of the broader socio-economic and political circumstances within which African parliaments operate, the evolution of African parliamentary systems from colonialism to the present, and the relationship between parliament and government with particular reference to political accountability and oversight.

Providing an excellent overview of changes in the role of African parliaments at national and local levels and across multiple countries, the volume includes chapters on Zambia, Ghana, Namiibia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, and South Africa.