Warlord Democrats in Africa

Democratization after war has been identified as a crucial mechanism to build peace in war-ridden societies, by resolving conflict through ballots rather than bullets. But, an often ignored by-product of the reliance on elections is that military leaders often become an integral part of the new democratic system, using resources and networks generated by the previous war to dominate the emerging political landscape. Warlord Democrats in Africa brings together a range of contributors to answer a crucial and overlooked question: What is the effect of the inclusion of ex-military leaders into electoral politics on post-war security? The essays in this volume examine whether it is possible for warlord democrats to make a positive contribution by shepherding their wartime constituencies to support the building of peace and democracy, or whether they are more likely to use their electoral platforms to sponsor political violence and keep war-affected communities mobilized through aggressive discourses. Containing a wealth of fresh empirical detail and theoretical insight, and focusing on some of Africa's most high-profile political figures, from Paul Kagame to Rick Mahar and Afonso Dhlakama, Warlord Democrats in Africa offers a crucial analysis of democratization after conflict.