3 - State Failure, Crisis of Governance and Disengagement from the State in Africa
Corresponding Author(s) : Mojeed Adekunle Animashaun
Africa Development,
Vol. 34 No. 3-4 (2009): Africa Development
Abstract
The post-colonial state in Africa has continued to dominate the public
space on the continent in spite of its well advertised failings. It is widely
acknowledged in the literature that the African state has utterly failed in
achieving material advancement for its people, leading disenchanted
and frustrated citizens to take a ‘flight’ from the state and develop
parallel structures to tend to their socio-economic and cultural needs.
This situation, symptomatic of a crisis of governance, provides immediate
explanation for the contested character of Africa’s public sphere.
This paper examines the nature of contestation in Africa’s public sphere
between the two dominant actors in the sphere – the state and civil
society, the ideological underpinnings of this contestation and the
impact of domestic and external contexts on the contestation. The paper
observes that the declining capacity of the state for social provisioning
provides the context for citizens’ withdrawal from the public space
occupied by the state. The paper argues that disengagement from the
state, apart from not serving the interest of both the state and civil
society, has serious implications for governing Africa’s public sphere.
Keywords
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)BibTeX
- Adejumobi, S. and Seteolu, D., 2002, ‘Politics at the Margin: Community-Based Organizations and Local Governance in Nigeria’, in The Role of Non- Governmental Organizations in Fostering Good Governance at the Local Level in Africa, United Nations Centre for Regional Development.
- Ake, C., 1994, Democratization of Disempowerment in Africa, Lagos: Malthouse Press Ltd.
- Ake, C., 2001, ‘Democracy and Development in Africa’, Ibadan: Spectrum Books Limited.
- Animashaun, M.A., 2007, ‘Combating Indigene-Settler Syndrome in Nigeria: The Constitutional Review Option’, Paper presented at the International Conference on the Dynamics of Inter-Group Relations in Nigeria Since 1960, University of Ibadan, January 16-18.
- Apter, D., 1965, The Politics of Modernization, Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press.
- Azarya, V., 1994, ‘Civil Society and Disengagement in Africa’, in John Haberson, Donald Rothchild and Naomi Chazan, eds., Civil Society and the State in Africa, Boulder and London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
- Beckman, B., 1990, ‘Empowerment or Repression? The World Bank and the Politics of African Adjustment’, Paper presented at the Symposium on the Social and Political Context of Structural Adjustment in Sub-Saharan Africa, Bergen, Norway.
- Bratton, M., 1994, ‘Civil Society and Political Transitions in Africa’, in John Haberson, Donald Rothchild and Naomi Chazan, eds., Civil Society and the State in Africa, Boulder and London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
- Ekeh, P.P., 1975, ‘Colonialism and the Two Publics in Africa: A Theoretical Statement’, Comparative Studies in Society and History, Vol.17, No 1.
- Ekeh, P.P.,1992, ‘The Constitution of Civil Society in African History and Politics’, in B. Caron, A. Gboyega and E. Osaghae, eds., Democratic Transition in Africa, Ibadan: CREDU.
- Fadahunsi, A., 2005, ‘The Obasanjo Administration, 1999-2003: An Appraisal of the Economy and Proposed Redirection’, in A. T. Gana and Y. B. Omelle, eds., Democratic Rebirth in Nigeria, Volume 1:1999-2003, New Jersey: Africarus Multimedia.
- Fatton, Jr. R., 1992, ‘Predatory Rule: Towards a Theoretical Conceptualization of Stae and Civil Society in Africa’, Paper presented at the Conference on Civil Society in Africa, Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
- Gurr, T.R., 1995, ‘The State Failure Project: Early Warning Research for International Policy Planning’, Paper presentation at the Annual Conference of the International Studies Association, Chicago, Illinois, February 21-25.
- Habermas, J., 1978, ‘Legitimation Problems in the Modern State’, in Communication and the Evolution of Society, Boston: Beacon Press.
- Jackson, R. and Rosberg, C., 1982, ‘Why Africa’s Weak States Persist: The Empirical and Juridical in Statehood’, World Politics, 27.
- Jega, A., 2000, ‘The State and Identity Transformation Under Structural Adjustment in Nigeria’, in Attahiru Jega,ed., Identity Transformation and Identity Politics Under Structural Adjustment in Nigeria, Uppsala and Kano: NAI and CRD. Joseph, R.A., 1991, Democracy and Prebendal Politics in Nigeria: The Rise and Fall of the Second Republic, Ibadan: Spectrum Books Limited.
- Kankwenda, M., 2002, ‘Globalization and the Need for Development Leadership in Africa’, Paper presented at a public lecture jointly organized by the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu Development Trust Fund, the Growing Business Foundation, the Micro-Enterprise Cooperation and the United Nations Development Office in Enugu state, Nigeria.
- Kasfir, N., 1998, ‘The Conventional Notion of Civil Society: A Critique’, Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, 3 (2).
- Keane, J., 1998, Democracy and Civil Society, London: Verse.
- Kieh, G.K., 2000, ‘State Failure, State Collapse and State Reconstitution: Conceptual and Theoretical Issues’, Paper presentation at the International Conference on Beyond State Failure and Collapse: Making the State Relevant in Africa, Monrovia, March 16-19.
- Kothari, M., 2002, ‘Masses, Classes and the State’, in Ghanshyam Shah, ed., Social Movements and the State, New Delhi: Sage Pub.
- Momoh, A. and Seteolu, D., 2006, ‘The African Economic Crisis and the NEPAD Initiative: A Critique’, UNILAG Journal of Politics, Volume 3, No 1. September. Mutfwang, P., 2005, ‘The State, Civil Society and Governance in Nigeria: A Post 1960 Synopsis’, in Oga Steve Abah, ed., Geographies of Citizenship in Nigeria, Zaria: Tamaza Publishing Co. Ltd.
- Nnoli, O., 2007, Introduction to Politics. Revised Second Edition, Enugu: Snaap Press Ltd.
- Nzongola-Ntalaja, G., 1998, ‘Citizenship, Democratization and the State in Africa’, in Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja and Margaret Lee, eds., The State and Democratization in Africa,Trenton: Africa World Press.
- Nzongola-Ntalaja, G., 2000, ‘Democracy and Development in Africa: A Tribute to Claude Ake’, Claude Ake Memorial Lecture, Series No 4, Abuja: AFRIGOV.
- Olukoshi, A., ed.1991, Crisis and Adjustment in the Nigerian Economy, Lagos: JAD Publishers.
- Olukoshi, A.O.,1993, ‘General Introduction: From Crisis to Adjustment in Nigeria’, in Adebayo Olukoshi ed., The Politics of Structural Adjustment in Nigeria, London and Ibadan: James Currey and Heinneman Educational Books Nigeria Plc. Olukoshi, A. and Laakso, L. eds., 1996, Challenges to the Nation-State in Africa, Uppsala: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet.
- Olukoshi, A.O., 2003, ‘Towards an Enduring Economic Foundation for Democratic Federalism in Africa: Some Notes’, in A.T., Gana and S.G., Egwu, eds., Federalism in Africa. Volume One: Framing the National Question, Trenton:Africa World Press.
- Onimode, B., 2000, Africa in the World of the 21st Century, Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.
- Osaghae, E.E., Isumonah, V.A. and Albert, I.O., 1998, Liberalization Policies and the Changing Structures of Legitimacy in Nigeria, Ibadan: Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research.
- Rodgers, G. and van der Hoeven, R., 1995, ‘New Approaches to Poverty Analysis and Policy’, Vol. i-iii.Geneva: International Institute of Labour Studies.
- Smith, M.G., 1960, Government in Zazzau 1800-1950, London: Oxford University Press.
- The South Commission, 1990, The Challenge to the South. The Report of the South Commission, New York: Oxford University Press.
- United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, 1995, States of Disarray: The Social Effects of Globalization, Report for the World Summit for Social Development.
References
Adejumobi, S. and Seteolu, D., 2002, ‘Politics at the Margin: Community-Based Organizations and Local Governance in Nigeria’, in The Role of Non- Governmental Organizations in Fostering Good Governance at the Local Level in Africa, United Nations Centre for Regional Development.
Ake, C., 1994, Democratization of Disempowerment in Africa, Lagos: Malthouse Press Ltd.
Ake, C., 2001, ‘Democracy and Development in Africa’, Ibadan: Spectrum Books Limited.
Animashaun, M.A., 2007, ‘Combating Indigene-Settler Syndrome in Nigeria: The Constitutional Review Option’, Paper presented at the International Conference on the Dynamics of Inter-Group Relations in Nigeria Since 1960, University of Ibadan, January 16-18.
Apter, D., 1965, The Politics of Modernization, Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press.
Azarya, V., 1994, ‘Civil Society and Disengagement in Africa’, in John Haberson, Donald Rothchild and Naomi Chazan, eds., Civil Society and the State in Africa, Boulder and London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
Beckman, B., 1990, ‘Empowerment or Repression? The World Bank and the Politics of African Adjustment’, Paper presented at the Symposium on the Social and Political Context of Structural Adjustment in Sub-Saharan Africa, Bergen, Norway.
Bratton, M., 1994, ‘Civil Society and Political Transitions in Africa’, in John Haberson, Donald Rothchild and Naomi Chazan, eds., Civil Society and the State in Africa, Boulder and London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
Ekeh, P.P., 1975, ‘Colonialism and the Two Publics in Africa: A Theoretical Statement’, Comparative Studies in Society and History, Vol.17, No 1.
Ekeh, P.P.,1992, ‘The Constitution of Civil Society in African History and Politics’, in B. Caron, A. Gboyega and E. Osaghae, eds., Democratic Transition in Africa, Ibadan: CREDU.
Fadahunsi, A., 2005, ‘The Obasanjo Administration, 1999-2003: An Appraisal of the Economy and Proposed Redirection’, in A. T. Gana and Y. B. Omelle, eds., Democratic Rebirth in Nigeria, Volume 1:1999-2003, New Jersey: Africarus Multimedia.
Fatton, Jr. R., 1992, ‘Predatory Rule: Towards a Theoretical Conceptualization of Stae and Civil Society in Africa’, Paper presented at the Conference on Civil Society in Africa, Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
Gurr, T.R., 1995, ‘The State Failure Project: Early Warning Research for International Policy Planning’, Paper presentation at the Annual Conference of the International Studies Association, Chicago, Illinois, February 21-25.
Habermas, J., 1978, ‘Legitimation Problems in the Modern State’, in Communication and the Evolution of Society, Boston: Beacon Press.
Jackson, R. and Rosberg, C., 1982, ‘Why Africa’s Weak States Persist: The Empirical and Juridical in Statehood’, World Politics, 27.
Jega, A., 2000, ‘The State and Identity Transformation Under Structural Adjustment in Nigeria’, in Attahiru Jega,ed., Identity Transformation and Identity Politics Under Structural Adjustment in Nigeria, Uppsala and Kano: NAI and CRD. Joseph, R.A., 1991, Democracy and Prebendal Politics in Nigeria: The Rise and Fall of the Second Republic, Ibadan: Spectrum Books Limited.
Kankwenda, M., 2002, ‘Globalization and the Need for Development Leadership in Africa’, Paper presented at a public lecture jointly organized by the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu Development Trust Fund, the Growing Business Foundation, the Micro-Enterprise Cooperation and the United Nations Development Office in Enugu state, Nigeria.
Kasfir, N., 1998, ‘The Conventional Notion of Civil Society: A Critique’, Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, 3 (2).
Keane, J., 1998, Democracy and Civil Society, London: Verse.
Kieh, G.K., 2000, ‘State Failure, State Collapse and State Reconstitution: Conceptual and Theoretical Issues’, Paper presentation at the International Conference on Beyond State Failure and Collapse: Making the State Relevant in Africa, Monrovia, March 16-19.
Kothari, M., 2002, ‘Masses, Classes and the State’, in Ghanshyam Shah, ed., Social Movements and the State, New Delhi: Sage Pub.
Momoh, A. and Seteolu, D., 2006, ‘The African Economic Crisis and the NEPAD Initiative: A Critique’, UNILAG Journal of Politics, Volume 3, No 1. September. Mutfwang, P., 2005, ‘The State, Civil Society and Governance in Nigeria: A Post 1960 Synopsis’, in Oga Steve Abah, ed., Geographies of Citizenship in Nigeria, Zaria: Tamaza Publishing Co. Ltd.
Nnoli, O., 2007, Introduction to Politics. Revised Second Edition, Enugu: Snaap Press Ltd.
Nzongola-Ntalaja, G., 1998, ‘Citizenship, Democratization and the State in Africa’, in Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja and Margaret Lee, eds., The State and Democratization in Africa,Trenton: Africa World Press.
Nzongola-Ntalaja, G., 2000, ‘Democracy and Development in Africa: A Tribute to Claude Ake’, Claude Ake Memorial Lecture, Series No 4, Abuja: AFRIGOV.
Olukoshi, A., ed.1991, Crisis and Adjustment in the Nigerian Economy, Lagos: JAD Publishers.
Olukoshi, A.O.,1993, ‘General Introduction: From Crisis to Adjustment in Nigeria’, in Adebayo Olukoshi ed., The Politics of Structural Adjustment in Nigeria, London and Ibadan: James Currey and Heinneman Educational Books Nigeria Plc. Olukoshi, A. and Laakso, L. eds., 1996, Challenges to the Nation-State in Africa, Uppsala: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet.
Olukoshi, A.O., 2003, ‘Towards an Enduring Economic Foundation for Democratic Federalism in Africa: Some Notes’, in A.T., Gana and S.G., Egwu, eds., Federalism in Africa. Volume One: Framing the National Question, Trenton:Africa World Press.
Onimode, B., 2000, Africa in the World of the 21st Century, Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.
Osaghae, E.E., Isumonah, V.A. and Albert, I.O., 1998, Liberalization Policies and the Changing Structures of Legitimacy in Nigeria, Ibadan: Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research.
Rodgers, G. and van der Hoeven, R., 1995, ‘New Approaches to Poverty Analysis and Policy’, Vol. i-iii.Geneva: International Institute of Labour Studies.
Smith, M.G., 1960, Government in Zazzau 1800-1950, London: Oxford University Press.
The South Commission, 1990, The Challenge to the South. The Report of the South Commission, New York: Oxford University Press.
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, 1995, States of Disarray: The Social Effects of Globalization, Report for the World Summit for Social Development.