Women and Politics in Africa

Recent democratization episodes in Africa have steered researchers’ attention toward the gender dimension of the transition process. This is the case here. The author focuses on the gender dimension of transition politics from an historical perspective to address issues on how African women have shaped and been shaped by transition politics.

Since the 1990s, Africa has experienced a push towards democratic governments. The aftermath of multi party elections associated with the democratization process has witnessed some gains and failures for the civil society organizations that mobilized to overthrow totalitarian governments. Studies on transition to democracy are increasingly directing attention to the gender dimension of the transition process, pointing to the general agreement that women’s movement is pertinent in the civil society organization and in the democratization process. Focusing on the gender dimension of transition politics, the work addresses issues on how African women have shaped and been shaped by transition politics? Taking a historical orientation, the work examines issues that have mobilized women, the mechanics that women use in mobilizing around their issues and the impact of these on the long term concerns of women as well as on the wider transition process.