Introduction

This chapter sets the tone for the edited volume through an examination of the problematic concept of “political transitionPolitical transition”. It highlights how different Southern African states exhibit various degrees of “partial”, “stalled”, “aborted” and/or “stunted” political transitionPolitical transition and transformationTransformations. These manifest through residual colonial, undemocratic and or anti-democratic cultures such as regressive politicsEconomic development, military orchestrated or unconstitutionalUnconstitutional leadership changes, militarisationMilitarisation of politics, electoral reform challenges marginalisationMarginalisation of vulnerable groups and electoral violence. Despite integrating some democratic precepts in their domestic constitutions, most southern African countries experience different forms of fragilityFragility, reversals and partial transformationsTransformations inimical to democratic consolidationDemocratic consolidation, thereby casting aspersions on the extent to which such transformationTransformations will lead to democratic consolidationDemocratic consolidation. In different ways, case studies in this book illuminate the various manifestations of “stalled” transitionsTransitions and/or “reversed”/”regressed” democratic transitionsTransitions. The authors argue that despite democratic milestones achieved in Southern Africa, lack of fundamental change in political culture poses a serious threat to democratic consolidationDemocratic consolidation, thereby signalling “change without change”.