What impact do political leaders have on the countries that they govern? And how have political leadership patterns in sub-Saharan Africa evolved from the era of mass independence in the mid-twentieth century through the post–Cold War period? Utilizing an original data set about leadership change, Political Leadership in Africa addresses these questions through an extensive array of statistical analyses and case anecdotes from situations around sub-Saharan Africa.

Carbone and Pellegata demonstrate how sub-Saharan Africa has experienced a shift from primarily autocratic leaders (who often took power at independence or through coups) and those lingering in power during the early postcolonial period toward a post-1990 predominance of elected leaders—whether in genuinely democratic or competitive authoritarian regimes. The characteristics of these leaders, as well as their strategies for entering and persisting in office, had significant effects on peaceful transitions of power, economic growth, social welfare, and state capacity. Multiparty elections, even in...

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