The Politics of AIDS in Africa

Why do some African states commit more effectively than others to the fight against AIDS? How do power inequalities and decisionmaking institutions shape Africa's ability to combat the disease? Within the context of debates about the nature of the African state, its relations with civil society, and its reliance on external donors, Amy Patterson presents a systematic study of African state efforts to battle the AIDS epidemic. Patterson directly tackles the topics of power, representation, accountability, and leadership. She closely examines the impact of formal and informal institutions, transitions to democratic governance, and pressures from the international community. Her focus on the politics of state actions brings to the forefront the crucial need for a new, constructive, and sustainable politicization of the struggle against AIDS. Amy S. Patterson is associate professor of political science at Calvin College. She is editor of The African State and the AIDS Crisis.Contents: Why Study the Politics of AIDS? The African State and the AIDS Pandemic. Democratic Transitions: A New Opportunity to Fight AIDS? Civil Society's Influence on the Politics of AIDS. External Donors and Political Commitments. Beyond Politics as Usual: Institutionalizing the AIDS Struggle.Amy S. Patterson is the author of 'The Politics of AIDS in Africa', published 2006 under ISBN 9781588264527 and ISBN 1588264521.