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In the early 1990s, a wave of democratization swept through many African countries, but its prevailing election-centred liberal approach failed to result in sustainable democracies. Why should this be and what can be done about it? This multi-disciplinary work on the Greater Horn investigates the impact on the efforts to bring greater democratization of the characteristically complex socio-economic state structures of the countries of the Greater Horn of Africa and, importantly, suggests an alternative, more effective, approach. Detailed studies of Ethiopia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda reveal the difficulties posed by institutional structures that are often weak and lack accountability; fragmented economies - which range from modern capitalist to subsistence farming and pastoral systems; and governance marked by differing conceptions of property rights and conflict adjudication practices and varied resource allocation systems. Chronic violent ethnic-based civil wars and social conflicts and deep-rooted ethnic divisions only exacerbate the states' ability to foster democratic governance, or even to manage diversity properly. The contributors examine why the countries of the Horn have been unable to overcome these obstacles to democratization and explore how and why an alternative approach is more likely to be compatible with the socioeconomic realities and cultural values in transitional societies.

Democratization --- Horn of Africa --- Politics and government. --- Democratic consolidation --- Democratic transition --- Political science --- New democracies --- Africa, Horn of --- Somaliland --- Somaliland (Region) --- African Studies. --- African countries. --- African development. --- Conflict Adjudication Practices. --- Cultural Values. --- Democratization. --- Ethnic-based Civil Wars. --- Fractured Societies. --- Fragmented Economies. --- Governance. --- Greater Horn of Africa. --- Institutional Order. --- Kidane Mengisteab. --- Multi-disciplinary Work. --- Political Science. --- Resource Allocation Systems. --- Socio-economic State Structures. --- Structural Obstacles. --- Sustainable Democracies. --- The Crisis of Democratization in the Greater Horn of Africa: An Alternative Approach to Institutional Order in Transitional Societies. --- Transitional Societies. --- Weak State Structures. --- democratization challenges. --- development agendas. --- governance issues. --- institutional obstacles. --- political structures. --- poverty reduction. --- socio-economic realities. --- transitional societies.