01296pab a2200157 454500008004000000100001900040245005200059260000900111300001400120362000800134520088500142650003101027650002201058700002401080773003401104180718b2004   xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d  aJensen, Nathan  aResource wealth and political regimes in Africa  c2004  ap.816-41.  aSep  aPolitical economists point to the levels of economic development, poverty, and income inequality as the most important determinants of political regimes. The authors present empirical evidence suggesting a robust and negative correlation between the presence of a sizable natural resource sector and the level of democracy in Africa. They argue that resource abundance not only is an important determinant of democratic transition but also partially determines the success of democratic consolidation in Africa. The results illuminate the fact that post-Cold War democratic reforms have been successful only in resource poor countries such as Benin. Mali, and Madagascar. The authors argue that resource-rich countries such as Nigeria and Gabon can become democratic only if they introduce among mechanisms of vertical and horizontal accountability within the state. - Reproduced.  aNatural resources - Africa  aNatural resources  aWantchekon, Leonard  aComparative Political Studies