The Christian Churches And The Democratisation Of Africa

VI. Identity crisis by Desmond Tutu.

In recent decades, Christianity has acquired millions of new adherents in Africa, the region with the world's fastest-expanding population. What role has this development of evangelical Christianity played in Africa's democratic history? To what extent do its churches affect its politics? By taking a historical view and focusing specifically on the events of the past few years, Evangelical Christianity and Democracy in Africa seeks to explore these questions, offering individual case studies of six countries: Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, and Mozambique. Unlike most analyses of democracy which come from a secular Western tradition, these contributors, mainly younger scholars based in Africa, bring first-hand knowledge to their chapters and employ both field and archival research to develop their data and analyses. The result is a groundbreaking work that will be indispensable to everyone concerned with the future of this volatile region. Evangelical Christianity and Democracy in Africa is one of four volumes in the series Evangelical Christianity and Democracy in the Global South, which seeks to answer the question: What happens when a revivalist religion based on scriptural orthodoxy participates in the volatile politics of the Third World? At a time when the global-political impact of another revivalist and scriptural religion -- Islam -- fuels vexed debate among analysts the world over, these volumes offer an unusual comparative perspective on a critical issue: the often combustible interaction of resurgent religion and the developing world's unstable politics.

"The contributors creatively explore the theme of 'democracy', noting its openness to a wide variety of meanings and interpretations. The book lucidly documents the fact that although in practice 'democracy' may not be perfect or easily attainable, its tenets are worth promoting in every society and nation everywhere. The Church has a responsibility to engage itself in this endeavour, beginning with itself and radiating its exemplary teaching and action throughout the rest of society. Appreciating the role of the Church as an agent of reconciliation, the book urges for the enhancement of that role in every nation. The book extends the challenge to Africans in general, and theologians in particular, to critically reflect on the democratization and reconciliation processes in their respective nations, in order to facilitate a meeting of minds concerning the destiny of Africa."--

This volume focuses on the role Christian churches have played in Africa's democratisation movements since the late 1980s. In some cases churchmen have presided over national conferences; in many, Christians comprise arguably the most significant segment of civil society. In some countries pastoral letters have challenged dictators; in others, churches have provided an essential support for the status quo. The book comprises both theoretical analyses and case studies. The theoretical discussions include the history of Church-State relations; theology and democracy; Pentecostalism and democracy; the problems of consolidating democracy. The 13 case studies sketch the historical context, and then critically examine developments up till late 1993. The book will prove particularly useful to students of Third World Christianity, African historians and political scientists, and all interested in the socio-political role of Christianity.

In what has become known as Africa's "second liberation," there has been a renewed drive from within for peace and good governance. Church leaders have been key actors in this drive as is evident in their peacemaking initiatives and their commitment to peaceful change. African scholars explore in this book the transition phenomenon as it unfolded in East and Southern Africa. They reflect on the theological, historical, philosophical and traditional perpsectives of the churches' involvement in the socio-political transition in Africa. Case studies of South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zambia, Zaire and Kenya have been used with a view to providing a practical counterpoint and hope for the future.