ABSTRACT
The struggle for independence represented the first effort at institutional reform and state reconstruction in Africa. Basically, Africans wanted to rid themselves of alien, despotic, exploitative, degradative and often racist governance structures and establish transparent, participatory, and accountable ones. During colonialism, the state promoted policies that stunted the development of an indigenous elite which later could have challenged European domination and control of colonial markets. In those colonies that had significant numbers of settlers or colonists, the effort to prevent the development of indigenous leadership in business and commerce, and in politics, was more intense. The pre-independence institutional reform program was dominated and controlled by the colonial state. Several events have occurred in Africa and abroad that have improved the chances that Africans may succeed this time in their effort to develop more effective governance and economic structures. The critical issue in the debate today is not whether Africa has the preconditions for democracy and democratization.
