Constitutionalism and Society in Africa

Okon Akiba, Ohio University USA Contributors: Okon Akiba, Peter Ekeh, Richard Sklar, Olufemi Taiwo, Mahmood Mamdani, Eghosa E. Osaghae, John Boye Ejobowah, Eboe Hutchful, Crawford Young, Wole Soyinka.

• Contents: Introduction: Constitutional government and the future of constitutionalism in Africa, Okon Akiba. African Values of Government: The impact of imperialism on constitutional thought in Africa, Peter P. Ekeh; On the study of constitutional government in Africa, Richard L. Sklar. Citizenship and Civil Liberties: Of citizens and citizenship, Olufemi Taiwo; The Great Lakes crisis: historical origins, contemporary significance, Mahmood Mamdani. Ethnicity and Pluralism: Ethnicity, the state and constitutionalism in Africa: preliminary observations, Eghosa E. Osaghae; Constitutionalism and political inclusion in Nigeria, John Boye Ejobowah. Controlling the Military and Civil Conflict: Bringing the military and security agencies under democratic control: a challenge to African constitutionalism, Eboe Hutchful; Competing images of Africa: democratization and its challenges, Crawford Young. Epilogue: We, the people - our dignity and the constitution, Wole Soyinka; Index.

'In an era of interdisciplinary studies, globalization and transnationalism, this volume is a timely and remarkable contribution from scholars of diverse academic specializations and cultural experiences to the scholarship on African political studies...The essays are well-written, insightful, and lucidly analytical...This volume will certainly fill a major vacuum in the scholarship of contemporary African politics and society.' Associate Professor Olufemi Vaughan, State University of New York, USA'This book offers some interesting reflections on the subject...There are instructive discussions on citizenship, ethnicity, the effects of imperialism, and the challenges of democratisation, to name but a few of the issues addressed in this book. It is a work which deserves to be warmly welcomed.' Journal of the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association '...the editor has done a good job in presenting and synthesizing the main issues discussed in the volume...Overall, the volume provides a useful introduction to some of the principal issues facing African countries as they embark on improving their forms of governance.' African Studies Review