Globalization and African Political Science

Abstract

Globalisation poses a number of challenges which African political science must address. To be able to do this, there is need to rethink its theoretical and methodological underpinnings. In spite of the centrality of power in the affairs of the African state, the study of African politics has not shown a sufficient concern for the study of power. Various perspectives in the study of African politics tend to focus on the social character (interests) of the state as opposed to its political character (power). This marginalization of power in political analysis meant the absence of a theory of repression, domination or popular empowerment. When, therefore, African states relapsed into authoritarianism and dictatorship there was no analytical tool to understand this phenomenon in such a way as to point the way forward for the people. Any tool of analysis capable of adequately understanding contemporary African politics must be clearly oriented to and informed by political power. African Political Science Pre-Globalization Globalization has raised a number of issues that African Political Science needs to address. To do so, the latter must either continue its previous pattern of analy sis or change it in consonance with changing global conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to properly understand the past of this scientific activity in order to be able to predict possible changes in it. In order to understand African politics, African political science has focused study and analysis on the African state. This focus on the state is understandable. In general, the motive force of politics is the overwhelming power of the state, together with the possibility of its use for social, economic and cultural progress, but also for domination, oppression and exploitation. Of all forms of power, state power alone can enhance or threaten life, wealth and freedom legally. As the repository of sovereignty, the state has ultimate power. It monopolizes the means of coercion to an extent that is unknown to any substate or suprastate community. Professor Nnoli is a former president of AAPS, and Executive Director of PACREP,