Ethnic Politics and State Power in Africa

Ethnic Politics and State Power in Africa
Author: Philip Roessler
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 419
Release: 2016-12-15
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1107176077

This book models the trade-off that rulers of weak, ethnically-divided states face between coups and civil war. Drawing evidence from extensive field research in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo combined with statistical analysis of most African countries, it develops a framework to understand the causes of state failure.

Ethnic Politics and State Power in Africa

Ethnic Politics and State Power in Africa
Author: Philip Roessler
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2016-12-15
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9781316628218

Why are some African countries trapped in vicious cycles of ethnic exclusion and civil war, while others experience relative peace? In this groundbreaking book, Philip Roessler addresses this question. Roessler models Africa's weak, ethnically-divided states as confronting rulers with a coup-civil war trap - sharing power with ethnic rivals is necessary to underwrite societal peace and prevent civil war, but increases rivals' capabilities to seize sovereign power in a coup d'état. How rulers respond to this strategic trade-off is shown to be a function of their country's ethnic geography and the distribution of threat capabilities it produces. Moving between in-depth case studies of Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo based on years of field work and statistical analyses of powersharing, coups and civil war across sub-Saharan Africa, the book serves as an exemplar of the benefits of mixed methods research for theory-building and testing in comparative politics.

Beyond Ethnic Politics in Africa

Beyond Ethnic Politics in Africa
Author: Dominika Koter
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 219
Release: 2016-10-13
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 131677290X

Why do ethnic politics emerge in some ethnically diverse societies but not others? Focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, Dominika Koter argues that the prevailing social structures of a country play a central role in how politicians attempt to mobilize voters. In particular, politicians consider the strength of local leaders, such as chiefs or religious dignitaries, who have historically played a crucial role in many parts of rural Africa. Local leaders can change the electoral dynamics by helping politicians secure votes among people of different ethnicities. Ethnic politics thus can be avoided where there are local leaders who can serve as credible electoral intermediaries between voters and politicians. Koter shows that there is widespread variation in the standing of local leaders across Africa, as a result of long-term historical trends, which has meant that politicians have mobilized voters in qualitatively different ways, resulting in different levels of ethnic politics across the continent.

The Logic of Ethnic and Religious Conflict in Africa

The Logic of Ethnic and Religious Conflict in Africa
Author: John F. McCauley
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 255
Release: 2017-05-03
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1107175011

The book is aimed at students and scholars of conflict, Africa, ethnic politics, and religion. It may also appeal to religious and political leaders. It proposes a new perspective on how ethnicity and religion shape political outcomes and violence in Africa, adding psychological elements to standard political science arguments.

The Politics of Ethnicity in Ethiopia

The Politics of Ethnicity in Ethiopia
Author: Lovise Aalen
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 231
Release: 2011-06-22
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9004207295

Ethiopia s unique system of ethnic-based federalism claims to minimise conflict by organising political power along ethnic lines. This empirical study shows that the system eases conflict at some levels but also sharpens inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic divides on the ground.

Managing Ethnic Conflict in Africa

Managing Ethnic Conflict in Africa
Author: Donald S. Rothchild
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
Total Pages: 368
Release: 1997
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9780815775942

In this book, Donald Rothchild analyzes the successes and failures of attempts at conflict resolution in different African countries and offers comprehensive ideas for successful mediation. The book demonstrates how negotiation and mediation can promote conflict resolution, along with a political environment that fosters development.

The State in Africa

The State in Africa
Author: Jean-François Bayart
Publisher: Longman Publishing Group
Total Pages: 412
Release: 1993
Genre: History
ISBN:

Examines the role and structure of the state in Africa. Amongst the areas considered are: the genesis of the state; the decision to pursue conservative modernization or social revolution; the formation of an historic postcolonial bloc; and entrepreneurs, factions and political networks.

Political Topographies of the African State

Political Topographies of the African State
Author: Catherine Boone
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 428
Release: 2003-10-27
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9780521532648

This study brings Africa into the mainstream of studies of state-formation in agrarian societies. Territorial integration is the challenge: institutional linkages and political deals that bind center and periphery are the solutions. In African countries, rulers at the center are forced to bargain with regional elites to establish stable mechanisms of rule and taxation. Variation in regional forms of social organization make for differences in the interests and political strength of regional leaders who seek to maintain or enhance their power vis-a-vis their followers and subjects, and also vis-a-vis the center.

Ethnicity as a Political Resource

Ethnicity as a Political Resource
Author: University of Cologne Forum »Ethnicity as a Political Resource«
Publisher: transcript Verlag
Total Pages: 261
Release: 2015-08-31
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 3839430135

How is ethnicity viewed by scholars of different academic disciplines? Can its emergences be compared in various regions of the world? How can it be conceptualized with specific reference to distinct historical periods? This book shows in a uniquely and innovative way the broad range of approaches to the political uses of ethnicity, both in contemporary settings and from a historical perspective. Its scope is multidisciplinary and spans across the globe. It is a suitable resource for teaching material. With its short contributions, it conveys central points of how to understand and analyze ethnicity as a political resource.