ABSTRACT
Africa had to endure the impact of the momentous changes in human existence engendered by the advent and rapidly expanding phenomenon of globalization. This chapter argues that civil societies and ethnicities are two important social factors that have significant impacts on modes and trends in governance in Africa. It provides an argument that the attainment of democratic governance in Africa is a long-term project that involves not only the reconfiguration of the African state but also combined pressure for change from non-state actors within civil societies and ethnically-based community action. The chapter examines both strengths and weaknesses of civil societies as agents of democratic development. It also argues that civil societies are important change agents but are not necessarily always democratizing agents. The chapter reviews some of the literature that has assessed the role of ethnic-based associational life, with a view to determining the extent to which the latter can be regarded as a hindrance to democratic governance.
