Politics in Francophone Africa
The fourteen countries in west and equatorial Africa that formed the heart of what was once France's African colonial empire - all independent now for more than four decades - still retain French as an official language, remain attached to French culture, and maintain political links with France. Each country, however, has developed its own distinctive brand of politics. Victor Le Vine traces the political evolution of these countries, exploring the elements that have shaped their particular political dynamics while allowing them to remain part of a unique francophone sociopolitical community. Le Vine's provocative discussion of topics ranging from the colonial context, political culture, and religion to redemocratization, informal politics, and international relations offers a comprehensive, unique perspective on the workings of this relatively little-known group of states.
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The Human and Geographical Contexts of Politics
The Colonial Context
Political Life and Institutions 19441960
Ethnicity Religion and National Politics
Experiments in Power 19582003
Rulers and Leaders
Abidjan activity administration African leaders African political Afrique Afro-Marxist Ahidjo anglophone army Assembly Bamileke became Benin Biya Bokassa Bongo Brazzaville Burkina Faso Cameroon Cameroonian Central African Republic Chad chiefs civil civilian communist Conakry Congo Congo-Brazzaville constitution corruption Cote d'lvoire countries coup Dahomey Dakar Decalo democratic Democratique developed dominant economic elections electoral elite empire Equatorial Eyadema Federation forces fourteen France France's Franco-African francophone francophone Africa French colonial French West Africa Gabon Gaulle Gbagbo Ghana Guinea Habre Houphouet Houphouet-Boigny ideological independence institutions Islam Ivoirian Ivory Coast Kerekou Mali Marxist Mauritania ment military minister Modibo Modibo Keita Mouride Muslim national conference national political nationalist Ngouabi Niger Noire official operated opposition organization political culture political parties politicians politique population president regime religious remained role rule rulers Sankara Sassou-Nguesso Sekou Toure Senegal Senegalese Senghor social socialist territories tion Togo Tombalbaye traditional troops Youlou