ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the notion/s of democracy propounded over the last three decades by a range of dominant social agents: firstly, principal Western bilateral agencies including the United States, Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Secondly, international and regional organisations, including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and European Union (EU), as such organisations have explicitly and/or implicitly incorporated 'political reform' into their agendas. Thirdly, foundations and Non-governmental Organisation (NGOs), whose programmes have complemented – and in some instances predated – the interventions by bilateral and multilateral agencies. And, fourthly, elite-based African organisations and initiatives including the African Union (AU), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), cognisant that African elites have an exceptionally high profile in the democratisation project, whilst not constituting its social base.
