This volume investigates the systemic relationship between pervasive corruption and the failure of constitutional governance across the African continent. The editors, Charles M. Fombad and Nico Steytler, compile scholarly essays that analyze why traditional anti-corruption frameworks have historically failed to produce meaningful reform. By examining the intersection of legal, political, and economic structures, the authors argue that current measures often function as symbolic gestures rather than substantive policy changes.

Experts identify this collection as a critical resource for understanding the structural barriers to democratic consolidation in Africa. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for scholars, policymakers, and students of comparative constitutional law.