During the first millenium Madagascar is colonized by black Africans and Malayans. The island is in the eighteenth century the islands is divided in diverse kingdoms. Between 1767 and 1810 the Howa people manages to unite Madascar in one state. Finally in 1817 King Radama I of Imerina, having conquered practically the whole island of Madagascar, enters into a treaty of friendship and peace with the United Kingdom in which he is recognized as king of Madagascar.

The Kingdom of Imerina becomes a French protectorate in 1885 (formally in 1895) and in 1896 France annexes the island as the colony of Madagascar, whereby it abolishes the kingdom. Madagascar becomes in 1946 a overseas territory. In 1947 a nationalist uprising is suppressed after several months of bitter fighting. France reforms institutions in 1956 and in 1958 the Malagasy Republic is proclaimed as an autonomous state within the French Community. Philibert Tsiranana of the Parti Social Démocratique du Madagascar (Social Democratic Party of Madagascar, PSD) becomes the first prime minister.

In 1960 Malagasy becomes independent as a presidential democracy under president Tsiranana, but in 1972 the army seizes power shortly after the unopposed reelection of Tsiranana: Gabriel Ramanantsoa becomes president. Ramanantsoa resigns in 1975, but his successor Richard Ratsimandrava is assassinated 6 days later. Didier Ratsiraka becomes president and military dictator. He renames the country Democratic Republic of Madagascar and establishes a one-party socialist regime under the Antoky ny Revolisiona Malagasy /Avant-garde de la révolution Malgache (Vanguard of the Malagasy Revolution, AREMA), committed to revolutionary socialism. Only limited and restrained political opposition is tolerated, with no direct criticism of the president permitted in the press. Ratsirakara is reurned in elections in 1982 and 1989. Ratsiraka allows in 1990 the formation of more political parties. In an increasingly weakened position, Ratsiraka accesses to negotiations on the formation of a transitional government. Interim institutions are created in 1991 and in 1992 a new constitution is drafted.

In multi-party elections in 1993 Ratsiraka is defeated by the leader of the Union Nationale pour le Développement et la Démocratie (National Union for Development and Democracy, UNDD), Albert Zafy. Zafy is impeached by parliament in 1996 and in the following elections in 1997 Ratsiraka, emerges victorious. His party is renamed Andry sy Riana Enti-Manavotra an'i Madagasikara/Association pour la Rénaissance de Madagascar (Pillar and Structure for the Salvation of Madagascar, AREMA). In the 2001 elections both major candidates claimed victory. The government declares Ratsiraka victorious, but Marc Ravalomanana contests the results and claimes. At the end of the political crisis Ratsiraka flees to exile and Ravalomanana becomes president. His Tiako-i-Madagasikara (I Love Madagascar, TiM) wins a commanding majority in the parliament in 2003.