African Politics and Society : A Mosiac in Transformation

by Peter J. Schraeder

• ISBN13: 9780312219475
• ISBN10: 0312219474
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 1999-10-29
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

At a time when new African democracies are replacing authoritarian regimes, new leaders are promoting racial and ethnic tolerance, and a new generation of African scholars worldwide are producing vital research, this book emerges as the most timely and provocative analysis of the nature and evolution of modern Africa available. Concise, accessible, and unified by a single author's voice and vision, the book provides a complete picture of Africa, using its entire past as a source for understanding its nations today.

Author Biography

Peter J. Schraeder is Associate Professor of Political Science at Loyola University.

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Illustrations, Tables, and Boxes	xix
About the Author	xxi
PART I INTRODUCTION
Understanding the African Renaissance	1	(22)
Approaching the Study of African Politics and Society	2	(10)
African Continent Is a Rich Mosaic of Diversity	2	(1)
Necessity of a Continental Perspective	3	(1)
To Understand the Present, One Must Understand the Past	4	(1)
Influential Impact of the International System	5	(4)
Central Importance of the Domestic Dimension	9	(3)
Balancing Afro-Pessimism and Afro-Optimism	12	(1)
Key Terms	12	(1)
For Further Research	12	(8)
For Further Reading	20	(1)
Notes	21	(2)
PART II RIVAL THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
Study of Africa within the Liberal Tradition	23	(20)
Predominance of Modernization Theory (1950s--Early 1960s)	24	(2)
Rise of Modernization Revisionism (Late 1960s)	26	(4)
Concern with Stability and the ``Politics of Order'' (Late 1960s--Early 1970s)	30	(4)
Demands for Policy Relevance and Public Policy Research (Mid-1970s--1980s)	34	(2)
New Directions in the Post--Cold War Era (Late 1980s--Present)	36	(3)
Key Terms	39	(1)
For Further Reading	39	(1)
Notes	40	(3)
Study of Africa within the Critical Tradition	43	(20)
Classical Marxism (Nineteenth Century) as Precursor to Contemporary Critical Thought	44	(2)
Dependency Theory and the ``Development of Underdevelopment'' Thesis (Late 1960s--Early 1970s)	46	(2)
``Circulationist'' Revisions of Dependency Theory (1970s)	48	(3)
Emergence of Neo-Marxist Forms of Scholarship (Late 1970s--1980s)	51	(5)
New Directions in the Post--Cold War Era (Late 1980s--Present)	56	(2)
Key Terms	58	(1)
For Further Reading	58	(1)
Notes	59	(4)
PART III HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Politics and Economics of the Precolonial Independence Era (Prior to 1884)	63	(24)
Diversity of Segmented Political Systems	64	(7)
Band Organization	64	(2)
Classical Segmented System	66	(3)
Universalistic Segmented System	69	(1)
Ritually Stratified Segmented System	69	(1)
Autonomous Village System	70	(1)
Diversity of Centralized Political Systems	71	(3)
Pyramidal Monarchy	71	(1)
Associational Monarchy	72	(1)
Centralized Monarchy	73	(1)
Regional Diplomatic Practices	74	(3)
Economic Diversity and Trade	77	(6)
Key Terms	83	(1)
For Further Reading	83	(1)
Notes	84	(3)
Political and Economic Impacts of Colonialism (1884--1951)	87	(29)
Early Contacts with Europe and the Arab World	88	(6)
Imposition of Direct Colonial Rule	94	(4)
Political Impacts of Colonialism	98	(7)
Application of the European Nation-State System to Africa	98	(1)
Division of African Nations among Several States	99	(2)
Incorporation of Several African Nations into One State	101	(2)
Destruction of Traditional Checks-and-Balances	103	(1)
Authoritarian Political Legacy	103	(2)
Economic Impacts of Colonialism	105	(6)
Creation of Closed Economic Systems	106	(1)
Creation of Export-Oriented, Mono-Crop or Mono-Mineral Economies	107	(1)
Evolution of Perverse Infrastructural Development	108	(2)
Authoritarian Legacy of the State	110	(1)
Key Terms	111	(1)
For Further Reading	111	(1)
Notes	112	(4)
Nationalism and the Emergence of the Contemporary Independence Era (1951--Present)	116	(21)
Trends in African Nationalism	117	(3)
Domestic Influences on the Rise of Nationalism	120	(6)
Creation of Administrative Centers and the Rise of Urbanization	121	(1)
Educational Training and Development	121	(4)
Formation and Spread of Voluntary Associations	125	(1)
International Influences on the Rise of Nationalism	126	(6)
Spread of Pan-Africanism	126	(1)
Involvement of African Soldiers in World War I and World War II	127	(2)
Demonstration Effect of Decolonization in Asia	129	(2)
Shifting Structure of the International System	131	(1)
Self-Determination and the Rise of Secessionist Movements	132	(1)
Key Terms	133	(1)
For Further Reading	133	(1)
Notes	134	(3)
PART IV SOCIOCULTURAL ENVIRONMENT
Ethnicity and Class	137	(31)
Ethnic Dimension of African Politics and Society	138	(2)
Ethnic Intermediaries and the Creation of Ethnic Compacts	140	(3)
Ethnic Violence and the Breakdown of Ethnic Compacts	143	(4)
Class Dimension of African Politics and Society	147	(2)
Class Divisions within African Society	149	(3)
Class Cooperation and Conflict	152	(4)
Competing Explanations of the Nigerian Civil War (1967--70)	156	(4)
Perceiving Events through an Ethnic Lens	157	(2)
Perceiving Events through a Class Lens	159	(1)
Uncertain Debate	160	(1)
Key Terms	161	(1)
For Further Reading	162	(1)
Notes	163	(5)
Ideology and the Politics of Development	168	(26)
Evolution of African Ideologies of Development	169	(3)
Ideology and Development Choice	172	(8)
Primary Purpose of Development	173	(1)
Primary Engine of Development	174	(1)
Role of Agriculture in National Development	175	(3)
Perception of the Rural Peasantry	178	(1)
Role of Foreign Powers and Investment	179	(1)
Ideology and Development Performance	180	(8)
Economic Growth	182	(1)
Socioeconomic Equality	182	(1)
Autonomy from Foreign Control	183	(2)
Human Dignity	185	(1)
Political Participation	186	(2)
Toward a Capitalist Hybrid?	188	(1)
Key Terms	189	(1)
For Further Reading	190	(1)
Notes	190	(4)
Politics of the African Novel	194	(23)
Political Dilemmas Faced by the African Novelist	195	(2)
Political Themes of the African Novel	197	(4)
Re-creation of Africa's Past	197	(1)
Colonial Intrusion	198	(1)
Colonial Injustice	199	(1)
Nationalism and Independence	200	(1)
Disenchantment with Elites	200	(1)
Freedom as Despair	200	(1)
Politically Committed African Novelists	201	(2)
Neglected Popular Elements of Society	201	(1)
Destructive Nature of Societal Divisions	202	(1)
Status of Women in African Society	202	(1)
Nuruddin Farah and the Politics of Commitment in Somalia	203	(9)
Early Years as Critic of Social Injustice	204	(1)
Qualified Optimism after the 1969 Military Coup d'Etat	205	(1)
Opposition to the Dictatorship of Siad Barre	206	(4)
Evolving African Identity	210	(2)
Politics of the African Novel in Perspective	212	(1)
Key Terms	212	(1)
For Further Reading	212	(1)
Notes	213	(4)
PART V CONTINUITY AND CHANGE IN GOVERNANCE
State and Civil Society	217	(27)
Concentration of State Power at the Expense of Civil Society	218	(9)
Africanization of the State	219	(1)
Bureaucratic Expansion and the Growth of Parastatals	220	(1)
Dismantling of Institutional Checks-and-Balances	221	(2)
Co-optation and Silencing of Civil Society	223	(2)
Expansion of the Coercive Apparatus	225	(1)
Creation of Personal Rule Networks	226	(1)
Crisis of the State and the Resurgence of Civil Society	227	(9)
Deepening Economic Crisis	228	(1)
Growing Inability to Provide Social Goods	229	(2)
Resurgence of Civil Society	231	(1)
Intensification of Domestic Violence and Conflict	232	(4)
Toward a State-Society Balance?	236	(3)
Key Terms	239	(1)
For Further Reading	239	(1)
Notes	240	(4)
Military Coups d'Etat and Military Governance	244	(23)
Trends in Military Coups d'Etat	245	(3)
Role of the Military in Political Governance	248	(4)
Civilian Supremacy Model	248	(1)
Watchdog Model	249	(1)
Balance Wheel Model	249	(1)
Direct Rule Model	250	(1)
Social Transformation Model	251	(1)
Myths Concerning the Effectiveness of Military Governance	252	(6)
Military Enjoys Greater Legitimacy	252	(1)
Military Rule Is More Efficient	253	(1)
Military Is Best Able to Maintain Stability	254	(1)
Military Constitutes a Better Unifying Structure	255	(2)
Military Is Best Prepared to Promote Development	257	(1)
Demilitarization and Transitions to Civilian Rule	258	(4)
Key Terms	262	(1)
For Further Reading	262	(1)
Notes	263	(4)
Democratic Experiments and Multiparty Politics	267	(24)
Establishment of Single-Party Political Systems	268	(3)
Experimentation with Multiparty Politics	271	(10)
Change via Multiparty Elections	273	(1)
Change via the National Conference	274	(1)
Co-opted Transitions	275	(2)
Guided Democratization	277	(1)
Authoritarian Reaction	278	(2)
Civil War and Contested Sovereignty	280	(1)
Democratic Consolidation or Decay?	281	(5)
Key Terms	286	(1)
For Further Reading	287	(1)
Notes	288	(3)
PART VI FOREIGN RELATIONS
Foreign Policy Making and the Pursuit of Pan-Africanism	291	(26)
Understanding the Foreign Policy--Making Context	292	(7)
President and Bureaucracies of the Executive Branch	292	(3)
Role of National Legislatures in Foreign Policy	295	(1)
Foreign Policy Impact of Nongovernmental Actors	296	(3)
Pan-Africanism and the Organization of African Unity	299	(7)
Inviolability of Inherited Frontiers	300	(1)
Noninterference in Domestic Affairs	301	(1)
Peaceful Settlement of Disputes	302	(4)
Opposition to Colonialism and White Minority Rule	306	(1)
Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration	306	(5)
Key Terms	311	(1)
For Further Reading	311	(1)
Notes	312	(5)
Africa in World Politics	317	(30)
Role of Foreign Powers	318	(1)
Cooperation and Conflict during the Cold War	319	(6)
Complementary Interests among the Western Great Powers	320	(2)
Africa as a Proxy Battlefield for East-West Conflict	322	(1)
Indiscriminate Support for Allies	323	(2)
Emergence of the Cold Peace and Economic Competition	325	(9)
Transformation of Foreign Policy Interests	325	(1)
Rising Economic Competition among the Great Powers	326	(2)
Rhetoric versus Reality in Support for Democratization	328	(2)
Reassessments of Unilateral Interventions	330	(4)
Involvement in the United Nations	334	(2)
Influence of International Financial Institutions	336	(4)
Key Terms	340	(1)
For Further Reading	340	(1)
Notes	341	(6)
Appendix 1 List of Acronyms	347	(8)
Appendix 2 Country Name Changes in Africa during the Contemporary Independence Era	355	(4)
Appendix 3 Political Leadership in Africa during the Contemporary Independence Era	359	(10)
Index	369