Rewiring politics to Africa's advantage
Picador Africa are proud to be releasing this seminal work directed towards leaders and all citizens wishing to address the extreme challenges facing Africa and South Africa.
“A functioning, robust democracy requires a healthy, educated, participatory followership and an educated, morally grounded leadership” - Chinua Achebe
Democracy Works explores how we can learn to nurture and deepen democracy in Africa to ensure economic growth and political stability. Making democracy work relies on much more than having free and fair elections. It depends on what happens between elections. It relies on the systems and institutions of government. Very importantly it hinges on what politicians want to do with the power they acquire, beyond the power itself. It also demands that local leadership has a plan for the country beyond simply winning the popular vote.
About the authors
Greg Mills heads the Johannesburg-based Brenthurst Foundation; Olusegun Obasanjo is a former president of Nigeria; Jeffrey Herbst is the president of the American Jewish University and Tendai Biti is a former finance minister of Zimbabwe.
Greg Mills is available for interviews. If you would like a review copy or for any publicity queries, including extracts contact Veronica at veronica@panmacmillan.co.za
Democracy Works
by Greg Mills
Democracy Works explores how we can learn to nurture and deepen democracy in Africa to ensure economic growth and political stability. It identifies a ‘democratic playbook’ to meet the threats to free and fair elections. But substantive democracy demands more than simply regular polls. Democracy is fundamentally about the inner working of institutions, the rule of law, separation of powers, checks and balances, and leadership in government and civil society, as much as it is about values and the welfare and well-being of its citizens. It also demands that local leadership has a plan for the country beyond simply winning the popular vote.
Democracy Works is directed toward leaders and citizens who want to address the extreme demographic and other challenges that Africa faces.