Democracy and the Rise of Women's Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa

Despite a late and fitful start, democracy in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe has recently shown promising growth. Kathleen M. Fallon discusses the role of women and women's advocacy groups in furthering the democratic transformation of formerly autocratic states.

Using Ghana as a case study, Fallon examines the specific processes women are using to bring about political change. She assesses information gathered from interviews and surveys conducted in Ghana and assays the existing literature to provide a focused look at how women have become involved in the democratization of sub-Saharan nations. The narrative traces the history of democratic institutions in the region—from the imposition of male-dominated mechanisms by western states to latter-day reforms that reflect the active resurgence of women’s political power within many African cultures—to show how women have made significant recent political gains in Ghana and other emerging democracies.

Fallon attributes these advances to a combination of forces, including the decline of the authoritarian state and its attendant state-run women's organizations, newly formed constitutions, and newfound access to good-governance funding. She draws the study into the larger debate over gendered networks and democratic reform by exploring how gender roles affect and are affected by the state in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

In demonstrating how women’s activism is evolving with and shaping democratization across the region, Democracy and the Rise of Women’s Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa reveals how women’s social movements are challenging the barriers created by colonization and dictatorships in Africa and beyond.

1100639183
Democracy and the Rise of Women's Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa

Despite a late and fitful start, democracy in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe has recently shown promising growth. Kathleen M. Fallon discusses the role of women and women's advocacy groups in furthering the democratic transformation of formerly autocratic states.

Using Ghana as a case study, Fallon examines the specific processes women are using to bring about political change. She assesses information gathered from interviews and surveys conducted in Ghana and assays the existing literature to provide a focused look at how women have become involved in the democratization of sub-Saharan nations. The narrative traces the history of democratic institutions in the region—from the imposition of male-dominated mechanisms by western states to latter-day reforms that reflect the active resurgence of women’s political power within many African cultures—to show how women have made significant recent political gains in Ghana and other emerging democracies.

Fallon attributes these advances to a combination of forces, including the decline of the authoritarian state and its attendant state-run women's organizations, newly formed constitutions, and newfound access to good-governance funding. She draws the study into the larger debate over gendered networks and democratic reform by exploring how gender roles affect and are affected by the state in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

In demonstrating how women’s activism is evolving with and shaping democratization across the region, Democracy and the Rise of Women’s Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa reveals how women’s social movements are challenging the barriers created by colonization and dictatorships in Africa and beyond.

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Democracy and the Rise of Women's Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa

Democracy and the Rise of Women's Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa

by Kathleen M. Fallon
Democracy and the Rise of Women's Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa

Democracy and the Rise of Women's Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa

by Kathleen M. Fallon

eBook

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Overview

Despite a late and fitful start, democracy in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe has recently shown promising growth. Kathleen M. Fallon discusses the role of women and women's advocacy groups in furthering the democratic transformation of formerly autocratic states.

Using Ghana as a case study, Fallon examines the specific processes women are using to bring about political change. She assesses information gathered from interviews and surveys conducted in Ghana and assays the existing literature to provide a focused look at how women have become involved in the democratization of sub-Saharan nations. The narrative traces the history of democratic institutions in the region—from the imposition of male-dominated mechanisms by western states to latter-day reforms that reflect the active resurgence of women’s political power within many African cultures—to show how women have made significant recent political gains in Ghana and other emerging democracies.

Fallon attributes these advances to a combination of forces, including the decline of the authoritarian state and its attendant state-run women's organizations, newly formed constitutions, and newfound access to good-governance funding. She draws the study into the larger debate over gendered networks and democratic reform by exploring how gender roles affect and are affected by the state in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

In demonstrating how women’s activism is evolving with and shaping democratization across the region, Democracy and the Rise of Women’s Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa reveals how women’s social movements are challenging the barriers created by colonization and dictatorships in Africa and beyond.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780801896743
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date: 08/08/2008
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 184
File size: 4 MB
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Kathleen M. Fallon is an associate professor of sociology at McGill University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
List of Acronyms
1. Reclaiming Power
2. Queenmothers, Colonization, and the Struggle for Legitimacy
3. Democracy in Perspective
4. The Iron Fist
5. Capturing Democracy
6. Big Men, Small Girls, and the Politics of Power
7. Women on the Move
Appendix A: Methods
Appendix B: Survey Data
Notes
References
Index

What People are Saying About This

Valentine M. Moghadam

A well written, important contribution to the growing literature on women, gender, and democracy, as well as to African studies.

Valentine M. Moghadam, author of Globalizing Women

From the Publisher

A well written, important contribution to the growing literature on women, gender, and democracy, as well as to African studies.
—Valentine M. Moghadam, author of Globalizing Women

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