An introduction to African politics / Alex Thomson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Thomson, Alex, 1966- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Africa--Politics and government.

Africa.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (297 p.)

Edition:

2nd ed.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 2004.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

An Introduction to African Politics provides an ideal gateway for individuals seeking to make sense of the dynamic and diverse political systems that are a feature of this fascinating part of the world.

Contents:

Introduction: state, civil society and external interests

History: Africa's pre-colonial and colonial inheritance

Ideology: nationalism, socialism, populism and state capitalism

Ethnicity and religion: 'tribes', gods and political identity

Social class: the search for class politics in Africa

Legitimacy: neo-patrimonialism, personal rule and the centralisation of the African state

Coercion: military intervention in African politics

Sovereignty I: external influences on African politics

Sovereignty II: neo-colonialism, structural adjustment and Africa's political economy

Authority: the crises of accumulation, governance and state collapse

Democracy: re-legitimising the African state?

Conclusions: state and civil society in post-colonial Africa

Appendix: a guide to African politics resources on the internet.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-134-45832-0

0-203-41183-8

1-134-45833-9

1-280-04676-7

9786610046768

0-203-40315-0

9780203403150

OCLC:

61817673