| 1 | Introduction : the changing governance role of African parliaments | 3 |
| 2 | Parliaments, politics, and governance : African democracies in comparative perspective | 25 |
| 3 | Legislative quotas for women : implications for governance in Africa | 48 |
| 4 | Local assemblies and local democracy in sub-Saharan Africa | 61 |
| 5 | Citizen's support for legislature and democratic consolidation : a comparative study with special focus on Mali | 79 |
| 6 | Evolution of parliament-executive relations in Zambia | 101 |
| 7 | Longitudinal view on Ghana's parliamentary practices | 120 |
| 8 | People, party, politics, and parliament : government and governance in Namibia | 142 |
| 9 | Parliament and dominant party system in Ethiopia | 162 |
| 10 | Parliament as machinery for political system control : the inner workings of Bunge, Tanzania | 183 |
| 11 | A decade of legislature-executive squabble in Malawi, 1994-2004 | 201 |
| 12 | The South African Parliament's failed moment | 225 |
| 13 | Conclusions | 247 |