Political Leadership in Africa
Leaders and Development South of the Sahara

An innovative analysis of political leadership in Africa between 1960 and 2018, drawing on an entirely new dataset.

Giovanni Carbone (Author), Alessandro Pellegata (Author)

9781108423731, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 19 March 2020

390 pages
23.4 x 15.7 x 2.5 cm, 0.68 kg

'… a significant achievement.' Kai M. Thaler, Journal of Interdisciplinary History

Do political leaders matter for development in Africa? Political leaders south of the Sahara have taken centre stage since countries in the region gained independence in the 1960s, yet a 'leadership trap' soon emerged with power-holders overstaying in office and chronic instability caused by coups resulting in decades of disappointing developmental performances. The beginnings of change are found in political reforms of the early 1990s, with many sub-Saharan countries introducing multiparty elections and an increasingly regular succession of leaders. But what impact did the new mechanisms for selecting leaders have on the political stabilization of African states, on the growth of their economies, and on the welfare of ordinary citizens? Drawing on a new dataset called the Africa Leadership Change (ALC), this innovative analysis of political leadership in Africa investigates the distinct leadership dynamics of development processes across the region from 1960 to 2018, revealing how, as Africa began to change its leaders and the way they reach power, these new leaders themselves began to change Africa.

Introduction
1. Leadership, politics and development
2. Coming to power and using it: leaders' selection, change and government performance
3. The Africa Leadership Change (ALC) dataset
4. The changing dynamics of African leadership: rulers before and after 1990
5. When the military strikes
6. Lessening Africa's 'big men': term limits
7. Leading for development? (I): economic growth
8. Leading for development? (II): social welfare, state consolidation and corruption control
9. Autocrats, hegemons, democrats and transients
10. Leaders to come.

Subject Areas: Regional government [JPR], Central government policies [JPQB], Central government [JPQ], Political leaders & leadership [JPHL], Elections & referenda [JPHF], Constitution: government & the state [JPHC]