Chapter Three. Internal Reflection Of The World Historical Context

Abstract

Historical background and the world political and economic situation determine the causality, appearance, and intensity of the phenomenon of the absence of effective government. Many of the problems of African states have been ascribed to the imposition of colonial rule and the modern state system but while colonialism set the stage, the end of the Cold War was are more important factor. The globalisation process, especially in the economic context, not only intensified the breakdown of effective government, but also increased its negative effect on the world order. This chapter explains these external factors and their effects on the internal context. Colonialism's destruction of traditional institutions, cultures, and heritage resulted in the lack of a common identity or social consensus for statehood that in large measure determined the failure of the first new republics and subsequent international conflicts in Africa.Keywords: African states; Cold War; colonial rule; economic globalisation