Democracy Trends in SubSaharan Africa 1990 to 2014

This paper identifies potential factors that may account for this range of democratic outcomes found in sub-Saharan Africa. It analyzes the different meanings of democracy, explains the most common metrics that are used to assess democratic quality, and identifies the factors and processes that led to the proliferation of multiparty systems in Africa. The paper concludes with suggestions on how to better assess the process of democratization in sub-Saharan Africa and ways in which the international community can better support democratic growth across the continent.