Contemporary African Politics presents a series of essays focusing on the transition to democracy in the countries of Africa. The contributors use specific case studies to identify the problems and prospects of the search for democratic legitimacy in Africa. Taking into account the rapid political changes in Africa, the essays demonstrate the pursuit of democracy as more than a simple adaptation of western institutional structures and philosophical ideals. They are presented as a unique manipulation of domestic variables capable of nurturing democratic ideals that will sustain the democratization process. They examine the varied conceptual perspectives on democracy as related to Africa while critiquing the comparative perspectives of many of the democratic experiments. The contributors discuss international relations, the role of the military, and the problem of African economic recovery in the context of the developing democracies, emphasizing Uganda, Nigeria, Namibia, and South Africa through specific case studies.