africa

Yale Center for the Study of Globalization
Figure 29.5: Trends in Civil War in African States, 1950-2014
Source: Authors’ calculations from Polity IV database.
The last decade has seen a decrease in conflict in Africa. African civil wars 2 have
become less frequent and severe with an average of only 0.4 wars per year, down
from 3.1 in the 1980s and 2.2 in the 1990s. The number and intensity of all conflicts
3 has declined from approximately 1,200 battle deaths per conflict per year in
the 1990s, to 600 between 2000 and 2010. 4 Alongside this decrease in war and
conflict has been a decrease in attempts to overthrow African governments. In the
1980s and 1990s there were 49 and 55 attempted coups respectively; the number
fell to 29 between 2000 and 2010, of which only 7 were successful. 5 Reflecting this
trend, military expenditure as a percentage of GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa was at 1.5
percent in 2011, down from 2 percent and 3 percent in 2000 and 1990 respectively.
In light of the above trends, the likelihood of Africa’s recent growth being held back
by political instability is therefore limited.
26.6.3 Macroeconomic stability and economic governance
The other aspect of governance that is important for growth sustainability is economic
governance and stability, irrespective of whether a country is a democracy or an
autocracy. Good economic governance entails control of corruption, enforcement
of the rule of law, and effectiveness and accountability in use of public resources.
508