African Political System Research Articles

The history of the Notion of the State in West Africa: from the destruction of empires to the emergence of the modern state resulting from colonization (the case of the Mali Empire)

This article aims to address the question of the emergence of empires in West Africa from the ninth century to the present day. The author plans to make an in-depth analysis of the political formation of the different empires which have succeeded each other in this vast West African space which nowadays shelters the current republics of Mali and Mauritania in particular and in general throughout other West African countries (Guinea, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Niger). The largest and most famous empires that appeared on the territory of what is now Mali is called the Ghana Empire in the 9th century and was succeeded by the Mali or Mandé Empire in the 13th century. The influence of these empires throughout Africa and the rest of the world shows us a particular interest in understanding over time the notion of the State in Africa before the colonization and destruction of the African political system and its replacement by colonial state with the arrival of Europeans. Today the question of the weakness of the modern or postcolonial state in Africa and Mali poses many questions not only in the concert of nations but also in the academic and university environment. We will try to demonstrate in this article the link between the break in the evolution of the African state and the imposition of the modern European state through the colonial state which is at the root of the backwardness of African countries in terms political, economic and social compared to the rest of the world.

English

This article analyzes the cultural and political changes that occurred in South Africa after the fall of the Apartheid regime in 1994. Such relevant events have impacted South African political system; it is defined by Almond and Verba as the interaction of rôles (differentiated and undifferentiated) and the political culture (heterogeneous and homogeneous) in a country. A change in one of the two components is likely to trigger a change in the other, as well as a shift of the system in the four-fold Almond’s classification. The descriptive statistics and comparative document analysis employed to analyze data from 1982 and 2013 highlighted changes in both the political culture and the structure of rôles’ interactions, as well as a consequent shift of the political system from a Pre-industrialized/Totalitarian to a Continental European one.   Key words: Apartheid, political system, rôles, political culture, comparative analysis.

Exploring Gender Socialization on African Political System and Women's Participation

This study explored the role of gender plays and the participation impacts of women on African politics, the religion and socio-cultural factors responsible for the underrepresentation of women through socialization in Africa. Obviously, past research has demonstrated that fundamentalist religious beliefs and affiliations are related to preservationist gender demeanours or attitude. This idea not only impacts gender gaps in political participation in cross-national examinations by belligerence that women's portrayal ought to be measured in an unexpected way or differently. Utilizing Fundamentalism and Modernization Theories, this paper shows that long haul impacts of women's representation are more indispensable than short-term measures in understanding gender gap in a mixture of political exercises. The timeframe since women have accessed the political framework discloses the gender gap to a more noteworthy degree than the presence of women in the governing body and cabinet at one point in time. Findings demonstrate that the suppositions of earlier work on women representation and political conduct or attitude may stretch out beyond Africa it also finds that gender grouping has in many ways impacted the low participation of women in African political system through socialization. At last, this study shows that the kind of political exercises matter and the implementation of policies that encourage give women level play ground to participate in politics while breaking down the impact of gender socialization as of the factors for women's representation in legislative issues crosswise over Africa. A qualitative approach was used in this study alongside with empirical investigation.

Primitive Capital Accumulation and the Dynamics of African Politics: Focus on Nigeria

This paper examined the nature and manner in which politics is practised in Africa with emphasis on Nigeria. The ways in which people seek political power has made politics a do or die affair in Nigeria. The objective of this paper was to critically examine the major factors that impede on free and peaceful political process in Nigeria. The paper argued that capitalism has been embedded and enthroned in African political system. Therefore, people’s interest in governance are not formed by what they intend to contribute to society, but on how much wealth they will attain at the end of their tenure in office. The paper’s analysis put forth the argument that this has been the cog in the wheel of African development as African leaders siphoned the treasury of the country and turn public money into private money.

Thinking regionally: Aviation and development implications in the Karoo region, South Africa

ABSTRACTThis study focuses on regional economic development in South Africa, across provincial political jurisdictions. The article argues that remote hinterlands can be more usefully understood as forming an integrated whole, rather than functioning as the poor rural cousins of their provincial metropoles. This article considers three propositions: that key transport projects (such as airports) may unlock regional development; that this may stimulate regional spatial integration; and that this may spur the South African government to address its weak regional planning system. All three propositions are speculative, drawn from the international literature, but they contribute to an argument for greater spatial coherence in South African planning in rural regions. The argument is illustrated with reference to the Karoo region of South Africa, and the potential of a new airport to impact on regional economic dynamics. Furthermore, the article argues that such impacts will require new regional planning systems, which are currently absent from the South African political system.

The case for nuclear electricity in South Africa – A political alignment framework

AbstractEnergy is essential for economic development of South Africa. All areas for development and economic growth i.e. reducing poverty and improving quality of life require affordable access to reliable energy services. When the challenges of energy provision to the population of a state remain unresolved, the resulting misery often leads to conflicts and violence, which in turn affect development efforts and impact on regional and global stability.The Integrated Resource Plan 2010 (DoE 2010) allocates 9.6 GW electrical generation capacity to nuclear technology. At the date of writing this paper –almost 5 years later‐ this allocation has not yet been committed to a build program. This situation is perhaps not surprising, since the National Development Plan, generally viewed as a vision and master plan for South Africa's economic development, is not supportive of the nuclear option (NPC 2011). The plan calls for further investigation into the need for nuclear electricity, citing gas and shale gas as possible alternatives for base load power generation.Against this background, the paper presents a framework for moving towards political consensus on the generation of electricity using nuclear technology. The framework builds on the notion that a “political system” can be characterized as a Complex Adaptive System (CAS). It defines political consensus by applying seven criteria which should be met for successful consensus building. These criteria, originally developed by Innes, (Innes and Booher 2009) have been thoroughly tested, and are increasingly used as a strategy to achieve consensus amongst stakeholders on complex and controversial planning and policy tasks. (Innes and Booher 2009).This paper presents a set of principles on which a political alignment framework should be founded, for example: that South Africa's economic development vision and long term economic development plan should be elevated above party political considerations; that people power is the lifeblood of a democratic society. Give the people the power of knowledge, and allow them to make their own informed decisions ‐ in this case regarding nuclear.A description is presented as to how the criteria for consensus building could be met in the South African political system. This description is informed by the development of nuclear lectricity in other political systems in both the eastern and western worlds. It further draws on the views of key political parties in respect of nuclear electricity, and proposes that political parties should implement within their own ranks, their own consensus building initiatives in respect of these national priorities.The paper concludes that if the consensus seeking framework is executed in an honest and transparent way, it could lead to consensus in respect of nuclear electricity, not only on a political but also at a national level.

Dueppen, Stephen A. Egalitarian revolution in the Savanna: the origins of a West African political system. xiv, 344 pp., maps, tables, figs, bibliogr. London, Oakville, Ont.: Equinox, 2012. £75.00 (cloth)

Journal of the Royal Anthropological InstituteVolume 20, Issue 3 p. 610-611 Book and film reviews Dueppen, Stephen A. Egalitarian revolution in the Savanna: the origins of a West African political system. xiv, 344 pp., maps, tables, figs, bibliogr. London, Oakville, Ont.: Equinox, 2012. £75.00 (cloth) Timothy Insoll, Timothy Insoll University of ManchesterSearch for more papers by this author Timothy Insoll, Timothy Insoll University of ManchesterSearch for more papers by this author First published: 28 July 2014 https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9655.12124_33Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Volume20, Issue3September 2014Pages 610-611 RelatedInformation

Social complexity in Iron Age and early modern West Africa - Stephen A. Dueppen. Egalitarian revolution in the Savanna: the origins of a West African political system. xiv+344 pages, 93 illustrations, 33 tables. 2012. Sheffield & Bristol (CT): Equinox; 978-1-908049-20-9 hardback $ 75. - J. Cameron Monroe & Akinwumi Ogundiran (ed.). Power and landscape in Atlantic West Africa: archaeological perspectives.

Social complexity in Iron Age and early modern West Africa - Stephen A. Dueppen. Egalitarian revolution in the Savanna: the origins of a West African political system. xiv+344 pages, 93 illustrations, 33 tables. 2012. Sheffield & Bristol (CT): Equinox; 978-1-908049-20-9 hardback 99. - Volume 87 Issue 337

Democratic transition in African politics: The case of Kenya

The splintered, struggling Africa of today cannot afford the luxury of multiple parties, independent presses and honest debate. In countries where national goals are not clearly defined, such freedoms enable the various factions to fight for self‐interest at the expense of majority concerns. National institutions are not strong enough to withstand these pressures, and governments are not cohesive enough to endure forces motivated by anything less than nationalistic concerns. At this stage most African countries are best served by benign dictators. Democracy can come later, if it is to come at all. But for now democracy is no more a panacea for African ills than is communism. What Africa needs to develop is an African political system, imported from neither East nor West, that combines elements of capitalism and socialism, both of which are inherent in the African character. It should include two concepts that Africans today mistakenly view as contradictory—economic incentive and social justice (Lamb 1987,...

Persepsies oor etnisiteit onder polities-gedomineerde groepe in Suid - Afrika

Perceptions about ethnicity among politically dominated groups in South Africa. Since 1948 the concepts race and ethnicity have come to play a decisive role in the ideological justification of government policy and, consequently, in the structuring of our socio-political system. A prime example in this respect is provided b y The Population Registration Act 30 of 1950, a cornerstone of South Africa ’s socio-political system. The impact of these concepts on the political perceptions of those not classified as white, is the subject of this article. It is argued that statutorily prescribed racial and ethnic differentiation in South Africa is one of the root causes of the legitimacy crisis in which the South African political system finds itself. Ethnicity came to be regarded as a justification of white domination by those not classified as white, giving rise to the counter-political idea of a non-racial democracy and the emergence of extra-parliamentary movements such as the UDF.

Consociational democracy as a means to accomplish peaceful political change in South Africa: an evaluation of the constitutional change proposed by the National Party in 1977

Abstract The analysis of the 1977‐proposals advanced by the National Party is prefaced by an outline of a number of key determinants of South Africa's constitutional dilemma. The most important amongst these are the exceptionally high degree of heterogeneity in the South African population structure, the high degree of economic interdependence amongst the various population groups, the existing White‐dominated power configuration, the growing power aspirations of the Black, Coloured, and Indian groups, and the growing internationalization of South African political issues. The South African political system is described as an artificial polity encompassing disparate and incompatible population groups and saddled with an inappropriate Westminster‐type governmental structure, The constitutional trends since unification in 1910, which led to the existing divergent constitutional arrangements for the various population groups are described as modifications to the Westminster‐system that were designed as efforts to accommodate the conflicting interests and power aspirations of the divergent population groups. Following a brief outline of the essentiak of the proposed constitutional plan, a number of unresolved questions are analysed such as the position of the Blacks, the allocation of legislative and executive powers, the reconciliation of divergent principles of governmental jurisdiction (eg. functional, personality, and territorial), as well as the problem of gaining the acceptance and cooperation of the various population groups. In conclusion the arguments are advanced that the incorporation of consociational elements in the proposals marks a substantial break with the past, represents a vast improvement on the status quo, and provides a mechanism for further constitutional engineering (including the possibility of regional devolution), which could lead to the development of a more equitable and viable political dispensation in South Africa.

Opvattings van Stellenbosch universiteit‐studente insake politieke verandering in Suid‐Afrika (1978)

Abstract Opinions of University of Stellenbosch Students concerning Political Change in South Africa: The South African political system is in a process of profound social and political change. Forces of change include both internal and external pressures of a political, military and economic nature on South Africa. A survey of the opinions of White students at the University of Stellenbosch was undertaken to establish to what extent this atmosphere of change had already affected the attitudes of the students towards selected social and political issues in South African society. The results show that ethnicity (as measured by using the home language of the students as indicator), still remains the prime determinant of opinion polarisation, although the students’ academic fields of study may also have contributed towards this polarisation. No indication of substantial deviations from prevailing Afrikaner cultural norms and values were found. This stability in White public opinion indicates a strong endorse...

The Legal Procedures and Techniques of Economic Co-Operation

The student of international organizations will always find a fruitful field of inquiry in the African continent if only because of the great number of international organizations of different types existing there. I would, however, also suggest that in part, at least, for reasons of a more urgent need for co-operation now manifesting itself on that continent, new departures in international co-operation techniques might be developed. A number of specifically African factors contribute to this notion. Among those that were pointed to at the Uppsala conference is the African concept of sovereignty with roots in the traditional African political system and its application to the formation of international ventures.

Democratic African Socialism: An Account of African Communal Philosophy

We have thought it necessary to write this paper in order to define the basis of the concepts and philosophy of democratic African socialism. It has been necessary because of the prevailing misinterpretation and suspicion of this philosophy as seen in the eyes of many people outside the continent of Africa, who, as we conjecture, have held the view that the philosophy is but a blueprint of communist ideology transplanted into the continent of Africa. We are aware of this view because time and again many people outside Africa, and we mean those of the western hemisphere, have been heard calling it “socialism in Africa,” which to us in Africa would indicate a mere transfer of the same from one hemisphere to that of Africa. We dismiss this terminology as completely untrue because in fact “socialism in Africa” and African socialism are two different concepts. The former is nothing more than a borrowed philosophy whilst the latter means that which is itself indigenous carrying with it the African heritage with, of course, some modification to march with the world's transition. However, we do accept the fact that our views are not conclusive as we do not officially represent any one government in Africa, but notwithstanding, this is almost the same view we have heard many African leaders such as Jomo Kenyatta express in various circles. Therefore, the explanations expressed here are designed to dispel suspicion and misinterpretation. The expression “democratic African socialism” is actually meant to convey the African roots of a system that is itself African in its characteristics. In other words, “African socialism” is a term describing an African political, economic, and social system that is positively African (see Markowitz 1967). Precisely, the whole system is based on African traditions.

Tribal Survival in the Modern African Political System

Tribal Survival in the Modern African Political System

Tribal Survival in the Modern African Political System

Tribal Survival in the Modern African Political System