Two Decades of Madagascar - by Richard Marcus (Paperback)

About the Book

Drawing on chapters from the Africa Yearbook, this book chronicles Madagascar's turbulent path -- where democracy falters amid coups, shifting alliances, and surging donor aid. Through it all, paradox reigns: strong institutions and growth coexist with deep poverty and fragile democratic hopes.

Book Synopsis

Drawing on themes from Africa Yearbook chapters on Madagascar, this book charts the country's journey through some of its most turbulent years. Democracy, marked by uneven progress, has weathered repeated elections, an unconstitutional government overthrow, rising social movements, and shifting domestic and international alliances. During this time, Madagascar witnessed extraordinary per capita international donor investment, signaling both global interest and urgent need.

Yet the country remains a paradox: a place where solid institutions and pockets of economic growth persist alongside some of the world's deepest poverty and most fragile democratic practices. It is a story of resilience, contradiction, and transformation.

About the Author

Richard R. Marcus is Professor of Global Studies and Founding Director of The Global Studies Institute at California State University, Long Beach. He is author of The Politics of Institutional Failure in Madagascar's Third Republic (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and over seven dozen articles and other publications.