The much-vaunted African renaissance' of liberal democracy, culture and economic grown appears to be in tatters. Instead, sagging economic growth, backsliding on liberal democracy and increased regional and national tensions menace much of the continent. Financial and commodity volatility have emerged as critical elements for African governments to factor into political calculations - and as political legitimacy is tied directly to economic success, the fallout from the continent's economic crises translates into political fragility.'
