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Understanding the African State: Fragility, Corruption, and Extraversion Explained

Delve into the complexities of the African state, exploring its volatile nature, weak governance, pervasive corruption, and indifference to citizens. Uncover the rhizomatic structure, the politics of the belly, and the concept of extraversion shaping African politics. From personalized rivalries to accusations of witchcraft, discover the inegalitarian and hierarchical structures influencing power dynamics. Explore the democratization process in Mozambique and its implications for global foreign policy initiatives.

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Understanding the African State: Fragility, Corruption, and Extraversion Explained

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Presentation Transcript

  1. The State in Africa

  2. Why is the African State so… • Volatile? • Weak and fragile? • Corrupt? • Oppressive and/or indiffernt to its citizens? • Personalized—dependent on personal connections to get services, heated personalized rivalries between parties (rather than ideological differences)?

  3. The rhizome state • The politics of the belly • Extraversion

  4. The African State is Rhizomatic(that is, made up of rhizomes)

  5. The Politics of the Belly • “I chop, you chop” • Politicians are like big men: their followers need to share in their prosperity; their prosperity is a sign of their political power (Rawlings) • Accusations of witchcraft • Inegalitarian and hierarchical • Why is there corruption? (Zairian air force)

  6. Extraversion of the African State • What does it mean for a person to be extraverted vs. introverted? • The African state is similarly oriented to the outside---as a source of power and resources • Some connections to pre-colonial ways that people obtain power; some connections to colonialism • More accountable to the World Bank, oil companies, etc than to its own populace

  7. Democracy • What is it?

  8. What did democratization mean in Mozambique?

  9. What are the implications from Mozambique’s story for U.S. foreign policy in promoting democracy?

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