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Mingling with the Maasai in Nairobi's Ngong Hills, May 2009

Download a copy of LeVan’s 2011 CV here.

Rep. John Conyers visiting my "Civilizations of Africa Class," October 2007

Delivering the Distinguished Guest Lecture at the University of Igbinedion (Nigeria) in March 2011

FEATURED RESEARCH: “Questioning Tocqueville in Africa”

"Questioning Tocqueville in Africa: Continuity and Change in Civil society During Nigeria’s Democratization"

Alexis de Tocqueville's influence on the democratization literature has encouraged the idea that transitions require an independent civil society. However this view reifies boundaries between state and society, and it over-predicts civil society confrontation with governments. Drawing upon Hegel, I develop a model that clusters organizations according to goal orientation and autonomy. I then examine civil society during Nigeria’s democratization. I attribute changes in autonomy and goal orientation of organizations to transnational organizing, coalition building, and repression. My findings question the assumption that autonomous organizations will challenge the state.

(This article appears in the February 2011 issue of Democratization, vol. 18, no. 1)

Dr. Carl LeVan's Homepage

Development, Security, African Politics

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Download a copy of LeVan’s 2011 CV here.

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FEATURED RESEARCH: “Questioning Tocqueville in Africa”

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