ABSTRACT
Whyareconceptssuchasdemocratization.civilsociety, voluntaryassociations,thecivicrealm,elections,nationalconferences andrelatedeventsandstructuressofascinatingtothosewhodohavethe timeandmotivationtodocarefulresearch?Whyisthereaproliferation ofarticlesandbooksonthesethemes?GoranHydenexpressedthe dilemmainhisPresidentialaddresstoTheAfricanStudiesAssociation, "effortstobuildanewdemocraticpoliticalorderin[African] circumstancesarenoteasy".Howeveratleastthereisaglimmerofhope thatpoliticalreformswillleadtogreaterfreedomaswellasmaterial well-being.
