Tukumbi Lumumba Kasongo Knihy

The book explores how historical context, economic and cultural contributions, and social identities influence international relations, particularly in Africa. Through case studies of Liberia and Zaire/Congo, Lumumba-Kasongo argues that the perceived objective conditions in these nations often diverge from what is necessary for true national development, highlighting the complexities of international interactions and the importance of understanding local contexts.

The book explores the various forces shaping multiparty democracy in Africa, including the roles of the state, political parties, and factors such as ethnicity, nationalism, religion, and underdevelopment. It also considers the impact of the global market on these dynamics, providing a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and influences affecting democratic processes on the continent.

In most parts of the world, especially in developing countries, governmental and people's expectations have been that reforms rather than revolutions are likely to produce more appropriate and acceptable results. Reforms are gradual in implementation and respectful to past policy fabrics of a society. At the same time, spread of communication technology, global liberalization of the market and peripheral homogenization of cultures have caused tensions in the developing countries. In this book scholars from different countries highlight the reforms and what has been achieved, what has failed and what is still needed? Experiences from Nigeria, Ghana, Guatemala, South Korea, Taiwan, Zimbabwe and Tanzania are combined with more general observations from around the world.