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The State in Africa: Some Thoughts on the Future drawn from the Past

In: Africa Projected

Author

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  • Richard A. Higgott

Abstract

Like the poor in history, the state in political science is, always with us. This is so even when, again like the poor in history, our attitude to the state is one of neglect. The attitude of the political science community towards the state has tended to be an excellent indicator of the prevailing political strategies, options and expectations that exist at a particular point in time. This is so in the study of political science generally and in the study of politics in post-colonial Africa specifically.1 It is the intention of this chapter, therefore, accepting the exhortations of David Ricci that the political scientist learns the value of historiography,2 to review our changing perceptions of the role and functioning of the state in the first couple of decades of our study of post-colonial Africa. The value of historiographical analysis for a book concerned with the future of Africa is largely self-evident, yet, at the risk of over-simplification, such value can be brieflẏ spelled out.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard A. Higgott, 1985. "The State in Africa: Some Thoughts on the Future drawn from the Past," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Timothy M. Shaw & Olajide Aluko (ed.), Africa Projected, chapter 2, pages 14-39, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-349-06499-1_2
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-06499-1_2
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