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  • Why do the qualities that win liberation so often undermine democratic governance? Drawing on case studies across Africa, this volume asks whether political systems rooted in struggle can reinvent themselves for an era defined by accountability and development.Recommends
    Why Liberation Movements Fail

Why Liberation Movements Fail

Greg Mills
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      Why have so many of Africa’s liberation movements – once symbols of hope, sacrifice and justice – struggled to deliver better lives once in power?Bringing together leading scholars, policymakers and political insiders, this book explores this enduring paradox across the continent. From South Africa, Mozambique and Angola to Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and South Sudan, the contributors reveal how the very qualities that secured victory in struggle – discipline, unity and moral authority – often become obstacles to democratic governance, economic transformation and accountability.Through a rich set of case studies, the book shows how liberation movements have frequently reproduced extractive political economies, entrenched elite power, and relied on patronage, coercion and control to maintain authority. Yet it also highlights important variation: from Ethiopia’s ambitious developmental state to Ghana’s more successful democratic transition, demonstrating that alternative paths are possible – though far from guaranteed.As a new generation across Africa challenges entrenched elites and demands performance over history, the ‘liberation dividend’ is rapidly fading. This timely volume asks a critical question: Can political systems rooted in struggle reinvent themselves for an era defined by accountability, inclusion and development?Essential reading for scholars, policymakers and anyone seeking to understand the past, present and future of African governance.

      Format: Paperback / softback CONTRIBUTORS: Greg Mills EAN: 9781776392452 COUNTRY: South Africa PAGES: WEIGHT: HEIGHT: 234 mm
      PUBLISHED BY: Penguin Random House South Africa DATE PUBLISHED: 2026-09-01 CITY: GENRE: POLITICAL SCIENCE / Comparative Politics WIDTH: 153 mm SPINE:

      Book Themes:

      Politics and government, National liberation and independence

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      Greg Mills is a visiting fellow at the University of Navarra in Spain and the strategic advisor to several African leaders. He served for twenty years as the founding director of the Johannesburg-based Brenthurst Foundation, established in 2005 to strengthen African economic performance. He has directed numerous reform projects with African heads of government and served four deployments to the International Security Force in Afghanistan as the advisor to the commander. He is a regular contributor to international journals and newspapers and the author of numerous books including Why Africa Is Poor, The Art of War and Peace and The Essence of Success.Ray Hartley is the former editor of South Africa's Sunday Times, Rand Daily Mail and Times Live, and the author of several books on contemporary African politics, including Ramaphosa: The Man Who Would be King and Ragged Glory: The Rainbow Nation in Black and White. An activist for democracy in South Africa, he worked as an administrator for the constitutional negotiations to develop the country's first democratic constitution. He now devotes his time to building democracy in Africa as a custodian of the Platform for African Democrats (PAD)

      Why have so many of Africa’s liberation movements – once symbols of hope, sacrifice and justice – struggled to deliver better lives once in power?Bringing together leading scholars, policymakers and political insiders, this book explores this enduring paradox across the continent. From South Africa, Mozambique and Angola to Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and South Sudan, the contributors reveal how the very qualities that secured victory in struggle – discipline, unity and moral authority – often become obstacles to democratic governance, economic transformation and accountability.Through a rich set of case studies, the book shows how liberation movements have frequently reproduced extractive political economies, entrenched elite power, and relied on patronage, coercion and control to maintain authority. Yet it also highlights important variation: from Ethiopia’s ambitious developmental state to Ghana’s more successful democratic transition, demonstrating that alternative paths are possible – though far from guaranteed.As a new generation across Africa challenges entrenched elites and demands performance over history, the ‘liberation dividend’ is rapidly fading. This timely volume asks a critical question: Can political systems rooted in struggle reinvent themselves for an era defined by accountability, inclusion and development?Essential reading for scholars, policymakers and anyone seeking to understand the past, present and future of African governance.

      Format: Paperback / softback CONTRIBUTORS: Greg Mills EAN: 9781776392452 COUNTRY: South Africa PAGES: WEIGHT: HEIGHT: 234 mm
      PUBLISHED BY: Penguin Random House South Africa DATE PUBLISHED: 2026-09-01 CITY: GENRE: POLITICAL SCIENCE / Comparative Politics WIDTH: 153 mm SPINE:

      Book Themes:

      Politics and government, National liberation and independence

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      Greg Mills is a visiting fellow at the University of Navarra in Spain and the strategic advisor to several African leaders. He served for twenty years as the founding director of the Johannesburg-based Brenthurst Foundation, established in 2005 to strengthen African economic performance. He has directed numerous reform projects with African heads of government and served four deployments to the International Security Force in Afghanistan as the advisor to the commander. He is a regular contributor to international journals and newspapers and the author of numerous books including Why Africa Is Poor, The Art of War and Peace and The Essence of Success.Ray Hartley is the former editor of South Africa's Sunday Times, Rand Daily Mail and Times Live, and the author of several books on contemporary African politics, including Ramaphosa: The Man Who Would be King and Ragged Glory: The Rainbow Nation in Black and White. An activist for democracy in South Africa, he worked as an administrator for the constitutional negotiations to develop the country's first democratic constitution. He now devotes his time to building democracy in Africa as a custodian of the Platform for African Democrats (PAD)

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