A Pragmatic Appraisal of African

Political Theory: Rethinking the

conduct of politics, conception of the

nation state, governance and

democracy in Africa Steve Odero Ouma PhD

Synopsis of the Synopsis of the researchresearch

Statement of the research problemStatement of the research problem Focus and objective of the studyFocus and objective of the study Significance of the studySignificance of the study HypothesesHypotheses Literature reviewLiterature review Research methodologyResearch methodology Limitations of the studyLimitations of the study Overview of chaptersOverview of chapters

AFRO-AFRO-PESSIMISM!PESSIMISM!

Conflict ZoneConflict Zone

Disease Prone Disease Prone ContinentContinent

HIV in particular!HIV in particular!

Continent of dictators Continent of dictators and bad governanceand bad governance

Anarchy, disorder and Anarchy, disorder and barbarism!barbarism!

AFRO-OPTIMISM!AFRO-OPTIMISM!Uganda Kampala Capital City has Uganda Kampala Capital City has had economy growing in double had economy growing in double

digits since 2000digits since 2000

Zimbambwe, Harare Zimbambwe, Harare Capital City; amongst the Capital City; amongst the cleanest cities in Africa!cleanest cities in Africa!

Kenya, Nairobi Capital Kenya, Nairobi Capital City Africa’s Largest City Africa’s Largest

Media HubMedia Hub

Senegal, Dakar Capital Senegal, Dakar Capital city, most peaceful West city, most peaceful West

African NationAfrican Nation

Statement of the Statement of the problemproblem

Dearth of African Political Dearth of African Political Thought LiteratureThought Literature

Africa’s Colonial LegacyAfrica’s Colonial Legacy

Ethnicity and classEthnicity and class

Africa’s economic quagmireAfrica’s economic quagmire

Chapter Two: Chapter Two: Theoretical Framework Theoretical Framework

of Analysisof Analysis

Africanus Horton: Africanus Horton: Civilisation TheoryCivilisation Theory

Africa is in a state of barbarism Africa is in a state of barbarism far behind its Western far behind its Western counterparts.counterparts.

The solution is civilisation of the The solution is civilisation of the continent. continent.

The Western countries are The Western countries are civilised.civilised.

European intervention is European intervention is necessary for Africa’s civilisation.necessary for Africa’s civilisation.

Believed in the African but not Believed in the African but not his culture.his culture.

Edward Wilmot Edward Wilmot Blyden: African Blyden: African

Regeneration TheoryRegeneration Theory Believed in Africans and their Believed in Africans and their

cultures.cultures. Further that the African and Further that the African and

his culture was superior to his culture was superior to that of his Western that of his Western counterpart.counterpart.

Pride of race was essential or Pride of race was essential or African advancement.African advancement.

The way forward was to The way forward was to embrace and harness African embrace and harness African style in all aspects of the style in all aspects of the Negro’s life.Negro’s life.

John Casely Hayford: John Casely Hayford: African Indigenous African Indigenous

Self Rule TheorySelf Rule Theory Casely’s theory of indigenous Casely’s theory of indigenous

self rule is a blend of Horton self rule is a blend of Horton and Blyden’s theory.and Blyden’s theory.

The way forward for Africa The way forward for Africa was to modernise from within.was to modernise from within.

This meant harnessing the This meant harnessing the African culture but African culture but acknowledging that the acknowledging that the dominant culture was Westerndominant culture was Western

Hence the need to renovate Hence the need to renovate the African culture to fit in.the African culture to fit in.

Chapter Three: Africa’s Chapter Three: Africa’s Colonial LegacyColonial Legacy

Genesis of Genesis of present day present day problems is the problems is the “Scramble for “Scramble for Africa” Africa” culminating in culminating in the partitioning the partitioning of Africa in of Africa in Berlin Berlin Conference of Conference of 1884-18851884-1885

Chapter Four: Chapter Four: Democratic State in Democratic State in

Africa: A Fragile EntityAfrica: A Fragile Entity The “Artificial The “Artificial

States” of Africa States” of Africa struggled to stay struggled to stay togethertogether

Scrambled for Scrambled for natural natural resourcesresources

Made attempts Made attempts at constitutional at constitutional reformreform

Chapter Five: Ethnicity Chapter Five: Ethnicity and Classand Class

Ethnicity is key Ethnicity is key to the typical to the typical African SocietyAfrican Society

At At independence it independence it was ignored in was ignored in the hope it the hope it would vanish.would vanish.

Class structures Class structures are on the basis are on the basis of the haves and of the haves and have-notshave-nots

Chapter Six: Africa’s Chapter Six: Africa’s Economic ImpasseEconomic Impasse

Economic Economic development development poses a major poses a major challenge to the challenge to the democratisation democratisation in the continentin the continent

Economic theory Economic theory to be applied to to be applied to suit the African suit the African contextcontext

Chapter Seven: The Chapter Seven: The Role of the African Role of the African

UnionUnion The AU is The AU is

currently playing currently playing a central role in a central role in redirecting the redirecting the conduct of conduct of politics in the politics in the continent. continent. (NEPAD)(NEPAD)

More can be More can be done; done; complacency complacency should be avoided should be avoided

Conclusions and Conclusions and RecommendationsRecommendations