Edited by Yiagadeesen Samy, Professor of International Affairs, The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba, Assistant Professor, Institute of African Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Ottawa, Canada / Global — We are pleased to announce the publication of The Elgar Companion to Democracy and Development in Africa, co-edited by Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba and Yiagadeesen Samy, published by Edward Elgar Publishing.
This comprehensive volume critically examines the intersection of political regimes, economic progress, and governance across post-independence Africa, providing an essential analysis of the continent’s evolving socio-political landscape.
Bringing together leading international scholars, regional experts, and practitioners, the companion offers both continent-wide comparative analysis and targeted country case studies. The contributors address the most pressing governance challenges facing Africa today, exploring key issues such as:
Democratic Resilience & Backsliding: Analyzing the resurgence of military coups, election integrity, and the constitutional mechanisms needed to safeguard democratic norms.
Economic Governance & State Capacity: Examining how political institutions directly impact economic growth, resource allocation, and sustainable development.
Indigenous Institutions & State Reimagining: Investigating the critical role of traditional governance models and Indigenous knowledge systems in building authentic, people-centered state structures.
Gender & Inclusive Leadership: Highlighting women’s political participation, grassroots activism, and the structural barriers to equitable decision-making.
As traditional, top-down governance frameworks face growing scrutiny, this seminal text advocates for solutions rooted in local realities and historical contexts. By bridging theoretical research with empirical case studies, the volume challenges Western-centric development paradigms and proposes actionable frameworks for democratic consolidation.
It serves as an invaluable resource for academic researchers, university students, international development agencies, and policymakers dedicated to fostering resilient governance and equitable socio-economic progress across the continent.
Co-editor Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba—a core leader within the Africa Indigenous Knowledge Research Network (AIKRN)—brings the network’s commitment to Indigenous-centered scholarship into this global dialogue. The volume reinforces AIKRN’s mission of integrating traditional wisdom and local agency into contemporary policy and development strategies.
Title: The Elgar Companion to Democracy and Development in Africa
Editors: Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba and Yiagadeesen Samy
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Format: Hardcover, eBook
ISBN: 978-1-0353-4816-9
Get Your Copy:
You can order the book directly from the Edward Elgar Publishing Online Store or request your institutional library to acquire a copy for academic research.
New Book Announcement: Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Development in Africa. New Scholarly Volume Challenges Eurocentric Business Models, Advocating
The Africa Indigenous Knowledge Research Network was created to undertake research geared towards identifying, re-centering and harnessing Indigenous knowledge in Africa.
©2026 copyright africaindigenousresearch.com
