The question of getting politics right has taken on growing importance in Africa, as the continent's economic crisis continues unabated, and with the political reforms occurring in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe (whose governments for a long time served as mentors of Africa's autocratic regimes). In response to this situation, scholars are addressing how African countries are being governed and what the constraints and opportunities are for political reform. Their focus on governance marks a new departure in comparative politics, recognizing the potential significance of actors other than governments, notably the various associations that make up civil society.