Democratization in Africa Reexamined

在这一研究项目中，主要案例研究之一是赞比亚的案例。在本案中，在此案中发现的政治做法与世界其他地区“民主化”后的政治制度中发现的其他经验具有共同特征。看来，赞比亚民主化最重要的障碍之一是“总统制”，迄今尚未在“民主化”进程中进行改革。这一宪法问题是横向“制衡”发挥作用的根本制度障碍。政党政治制度化的薄弱也可以用这种中央集权的政治制度来解释，这种制度自UNIP一党时代的“古老政权”以来一直延续下去。从这个意义上说，当前的宪法审查进程将是对民主化进程能否在不久的将来实现的重要考验。此外，赞比亚最近政治制度的特点之一是，来自活跃的“民间社会”的纵向问责补充了横向问责的相对弱点。这一特点反映在赞比亚公众扩大政治自由和空间的积极形象上。最后，在这个项目中，确定了未来的研究议程。确实有必要研究各种微观层面的政治做法和制度，这些做法和制度在过于侧重于选举进程的文献中被相对忽视，目的是加深对“民主化”真正进程的理解。

In this research project, one of the main case studies was that of Zambia. In this case, political practices found in the case have common features in other experiences identified in political regimes after "democratization" in other parts of the world. Seemingly, one of the most important obstacles for democratization in Zambia is "presidentialism," which has not yet reformed in the process of "democratization" so far. This constitutional issue is the fundamental institutional impediment for horizontal "check and balance" to work. Weakness of institutionalization of party politics can be also explained by this centralized political system, which has continued since the "ancient regime" of UNIP one-party era. In this sense, the current constitutional review process will be a important test if the process of democratization will be materialized in the near future. In addition, one of the characteristics of recent political regime in Zambia is that vertical accountability derived from active "civil society" complements relative weakness of horizontal one. This feature is reflected in a positive image of broadening political freedom and space held by the Zambian public. Finally, in this project, the future research agenda was identified. It is really necessary to look into a variety of micro-level political practices and institutions which have been relatively overlooked in the literature focusing too much on electoral process for the purpose of deepening the understanding real process of "democratization".