Violence, political culture & development in Africa

Abstract

It is remarkable how many transitions to democracy there have been in Africa in recent years. The number of countries holding competitive legislative elections as quadrupled since 1990. At the same time societies on the African continent have experienced major crises of violent conflict, war and genocide. The elected governments have not necessarily been able to achieve peaceful regulation of difference and contestation. Sub-Saharan Africa has provided spectacular examples of social order disintegrating, sometimes to the point of what is described as 'state failure' or 'state collapse'. A team of historians, anthropologist and political scientists show the ways in which violence, political culture and development have interacted in recent African history. They use examples from societies across Africa to discuss a range of issues from 'warlord politics' to 'new wars' as outcomes of fundamental changes in social solidarity.