Micro-Democracy? The Merger of Farmer Unions in Zimbabwe

摘要: Political analysts, both liberal and historicist, point to the quality of associational life in civil society as an important factor affecting installation consolidation democratic regimes. For de Tocqueville (1966), democracy hinges on creation voluntary associations through which citizens learn act politically demand accountability from state. Gramsci, organizations society—such schools, churches, unions, interest groups—can help legitimate prevailing political regime by either reinforcing or challenging way power is exercised (Femia 1981). People therefore apparently get governments they deserve: where associate readily, govern themselves democratically, assert independent opinions, can contribute construction sustainable institutions, even at macro-political level; people eschew self-organization favor establishing personal ties powerful patrons deferring entrenched authority, reproduce all levels polity patterns rule that already prevail within state broader society. Africanists cannot comment definitively character Africa because contemporary literature thin several respects. We currently lack a theoretical framework account adequately for development status relationships such groups The available conceptual models group formation representation—such pluralism, neo-Marxism corporatism—were designed politics parts world distant Africa. When borrow these models, we too often do so unselectively uncritically, failing recognize “the goal not recycle theory but reinterpret it” (Bianchi 1989, 10).