1.  Africa in mid century was a largely colonized continent by the British, Belgians, French, and other European nations

3.  After independence two distinct political movements occurred in these nations 1. one party authoritarian governments Or 2. “African Socialism”

4.  For many of these nations the next step was the movement to military regimes as this was the most prominent way to destroy an authoritarian regime

5.  BY 1989 only 5 African nations could be considered democratic: Botswana, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe  This began to change rapidly in the 1990s as political liberalization became common  By 1995, multiparty elections were held in 38 African nations.  Pressure to reform came from OAU, EU, IMF, World Bank

8.  https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom- world/freedom-world-2015#.VOdKjubF91Z https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom- world/freedom-world-2015#.VOdKjubF91Z  https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/file s/01152015_FIW_2015_final.pdf https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/file s/01152015_FIW_2015_final.pdf  https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom- world-2015/africas-gains-and- declines#.VOdLBubF91Y https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom- world-2015/africas-gains-and- declines#.VOdLBubF91Y

9.  Civil War- will disrupt the ability to exercise free democratic principles  HIV- takes away young voters and candidates  Poverty- breeds radicalism and desperation  Economic limitations- fighting over limited resources serves as a catalyst for radical actions to gain control over them  Lack of infrastructure- nations have an inability to simply run an election without accusations of corruption

10.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa- 20465752 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa- 20465752  http://www.economist.com/node/21551494 http://www.economist.com/node/21551494  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/27/world /africa/africas-steady-steps-toward- democracy.html