- Collection:
- Atlanta University and Clark Atlanta University Theses and Dissertations
- Title:
- Promoting democracy in Africa? A critical assessment of the impact of united states democracy assistance programs on the democratic transition in the republic of Zambia, 1992-1997, 2001
- Creator:
- Jennings, Keith L.
- Date of Original:
- 2001-05-01
- Subject:
- Degrees, Academic
Dissertations, Academic - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- theses
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- This study is a critical review of the impact that United States democracy assistance programs, implemented between 1992 and 1997, had on Zambia's transition to democracy. The study assesses the Zambian government's ability to create a more open, accountable, and transparent political system with stable political institutions and a vibrant civil society. Analyzing the complex processes associated with consolidating democratic gains while undertaking fundamental economic reforms in the context of globalization is the main focus of the study. The study also seeks to understand the relationship between foreign democracy assistance programs and the support for neo-liberal economic reforms by donor countries. The findings suggest that United States democracy assistance programs were constructed on several faulty assumptions and most components of its fiveyear assistance programs either failed outright or were later proven to be unsustainable. The democracy assistance programs failed in part because of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) government's betrayal of its original mission, the maintenance of a one-party state authoritarian presidential system, and because of the severe economic crises associated with the unpopular structural adjustment program. The dramatic reduction in state involvement in the economy, the rapid implementation of the IMF/World Bank inspired structural adjustment programs, coupled with the failure to create an enabling environment for a market economy, and the lack of a national development plan, collectively undermined citizens' confidence in the government and the political institutions. It also led to more authoritarian responses by the Zambian government to address legitimate criticisms made by opposition political parties and civil society organizations. The government's intransigent behavior on several key national issues gave rise to sharp political tension and led some to seek extralegal means of replacing it. The country, once seen by Western governments as a model of democratic change in Africa, Remains at a dangerous crossroads and will continue to be there until the pro-democratic movement is reconstituted and begins to build new units of power and mobilize Zambian citizens in their own interest.
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/cau.td:2001_jennings_keith_l
- Rights Holder:
- Clark Atlanta University
- Holding Institution:
- Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library
- Rights:
-
