Christianity, Islam, and Liberal Democracy in Africa

This academic leave is devoted to (1) completing and publishing a book manuscript that assesses the impact of Christianity and Islam on the prospects for democracy in sub‐Saharan Africa, (2) revising and publishing articles related to the book manuscript, and (3) advancing research on religion, development, and democracy in sub‐Saharan Africa.

Dowd has been invited by Paul Collier to spend my academic leave at the Centre for African Studies at the University of Oxford as a senior academic member of the Centre.  As a senior academic member at the Centre for the Study of African Economies at Oxford [a unit of Saint Antony’s College], Dowd will have the opportunity to work among social scientists who study Africa and to benefit from interaction with them. Dowd will also have the opportunity to attend lectures and workshops focused on economic growth, development, and politics in Africa. The Centre’s superb library will also be available to him.