Includes bibliographical references (p. 251-269) and index.

Power politics -- Political settlements -- The colonial political settlement -- The independence political settlement -- A period of crisis, 2000-2008 -- African experiences with power sharing -- Zimbabwe's power-sharing settlement, 2008-2013 -- Rewriting Zimbabwe's constitution -- Improving electoral conduct? -- Approaching security sector reform -- Tackling transitional justice -- Reflections on theory and policy.

"Tracing the country's elusive search for political stability across the decades, Michael Bratton offers a careful analysis of the failed power-sharing experiment, an account of its institutional origins, and an explanation of its demise. In the process, he explores key challenges of political transition: constitution making, elections, security-sector reform, and transitional justice."--Publishers website