This collection of case studies explores the impact that African trade unions have had on the democratisation process in Africa, focusing on seven countries: Senegal, Niger, Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. The authors engage with the debates regarding the sources of political liberalisation and democratisation on the continent. Contrary to the argument that these processes were primarily driven by external events and actors, the authors in this volume assert that such perspectives overlook the pre-eminent role played by internal actors, particularly the trade unions. In the initial, pre-transition, phase of political liberalisation, trade unions were instrumental in creating political space through their persistent demands for political rights and the freedom to organise. They have occupied an unrivalled position at the forefront of popular struggles for democracy, acting as a figurehead for other groups in civil society that lack the mobilising capacity enjoyed by the unions.

Trade unions also continued to play an important role during the establishment and consolidation of the new democratic dispensations. In some countries they gained an influential role in government policy formulation. However, in all these cases, the unions were ultimately forced to protest against economic reforms and, in the examples of Zambia and Zimbabwe, went as far as forming opposition parties to directly contest elections with incumbent regimes. Whilst some analysts argue that the persistence of trade union militancy would undermine the process of democratisation by destabilising a new democratic regime, these case studies suggest that unions have acted as an essential counterweight to the executive powers of government, and have continued to keep the democratic transitions moving forward. In their attempts to defend real wages, public services, and a broader social agenda in the face of the Structural Adjustment Programmes espoused by international financial institutions and donor governments, the unions have proven to be the most vocal and effective representatives of the interests of both their members and the wider popular classes in their respective countries.

This collection includes contributions from some eminent scholars, and the case studies provide extremely informative and well-detailed accounts of the different national contexts of trade union organisation. However, the level of theoretical and analytical content in each of the chapters is quite uneven, which necessitates the noteworthy contribution made by the editor. Kraus' introduction and conclusion provides the real analytical meat of the book, situating the case study findings within some of the broader debates about political liberalisation on the continent. Overall, this is a timely and thought-provoking contribution to the debates regarding the role that organised labour has in the democratisation of African countries.