African Democratization and Military Coups

(Hardback)

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Description

Onwumechili provides an exciting perspective on African military coups and reminds us that democracy is not synonymous solely with Western societies. He examines democracies in traditional Africa and shows how these socieites clearly defined and limited the roles of traditional African armies. From this background, Onwumechili makes readers appreciate that modern African armies are deviant institutions, with no roots in traditional Africa. Rather, he argues, one has to seek those roots in Africa's recent, colonial history. Dr. Onwumechili goes on to describe the reasons for coups and their tactics. Finally, he examines how military coups can be prevented. While previous solutions have largely failed, Onwumechili provides convincing solutions based on case studies.

Reviews

"A fascinating work, well researched, and bristling with courage to provide a fresh way of looking at old problems. Chuka Onwumechili is a young African scholar of immense promise at a time the continent is in dire need of such."-Ojo Maduekwe, Attorney-at-Law Member, 2nd Republic National Assembly
"This is an important and well-researched book on the two related themes that have dominated Africa's 40 years of independence: how to achieve democracy, and how to contain military rule....This work is more than just a valuable academic contribution to the study of the two themes. It is a lucid and practical manual for those currently trying to ensure the steady implementation of democracy and civil society in the African continent."-Kaye Whitman, Publisher, West Africa magazine
"What singles this book out of the pack is the author's style of presentation and his synthetic power of analysis. Not only does he give us a good historical background to the political process in pre-colonial Africa, but he leads us into the present with a great deal of enthusiasm for details. Students of African politics will find much to digest in this work."-Sulayman S. Nyang, Howard University
[P]rovides a good analysis of African military coups as well as the democratization process on the African continent since the early 1990s.-Terrorism & Political Violence
On the whole, African Democratisation and Military Coups is quite incisive in its analyses and structurally well-balanced. It provides enough food for thought to make it a must-read for policy makers, Africanists and researchers specialising in war studies, government and anthropology.-Millennium: Journal of International Studies
"Provides a good analysis of African military coups as well as the democratization process on the African continent since the early 1990s."-Terrorism & Political Violence
"[P]rovides a good analysis of African military coups as well as the democratization process on the African continent since the early 1990s."-Terrorism & Political Violence
"On the whole, African Democratisation and Military Coups is quite incisive in its analyses and structurally well-balanced. It provides enough food for thought to make it a must-read for policy makers, Africanists and researchers specialising in war studies, government and anthropology."-Millennium: Journal of International Studies

Author Bio

CHUKA ONWUMECHILI is Associate Professor in the School of Arts and Sciences at Bowie State University. His research interests focus on military and development issues in Africa. Dr. Onwumechili has presented numerous papers on military coups in Africa and was an invited panelist at the 1997 Sierra Leone Peace Conference organized by Sierra Leone's prodemocracy movements.