African Politics: An Introduction is an engaging, broad‑ranging guide to the politics of African states, reflecting on contemporary patterns and trends, whilst also situating them in their historical context.
Viewed from the outside, African politics are often said to be too complex and multifarious to understand properly, leading to widespread misunderstandings and stereotypes.
This book challenges these assumptions, providing an accessible, reader‑friendly guide. Starting with an introduction to the historical roots of African politics right back to the precolonial era, this book goes on to discuss colonialism and the independence movement, before diving into the postcolonial state and the challenges of governance, development, and conflict which many states have struggled with.
This book looks in detail at the various actors involved, from religious groups, to political parties, youth politics, women, social movements, and different social classes. At the end of each chapter, a classwork box provides students with a particular example of an African state or event to investigate in more detail, encouraging them to consider the specific and to resist generalizations.
African Politics: An Introduction is perfect for an undergraduate student starting out in their studies of African politics, but it would also be a welcome read for any reader who wants to learn a bit more about the governance of Africa.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
Part A: Framing the Study of Africa
2. The Making of Modern Africa
3. Historical and Geographical Background
4. The West, the Media, and the Representation of Africa
5. African Political Thought
6. Political Theories and Relevance to Africa
Part B: Historical Roots of African Politics
7. Precolonial Political Systems
8. The Colonial State
9. Colonialism and Colonial Legacies
10. Nationalism and Freedom
Part C: The Postcolonial African State
11. The Postcolonial State and Society
12. Democracy
13. Political Economy
14. Crisis of Governance, Political Liberalization, and Democratic Reform
15. Military Intervention in Politics and Government
16. Conflicts, Peace, and Security
Part D: Groups and Social Identities
17. Women and Politics
18. Identity and Politics
19. Political Parties
20. Youth and Politics
21. Social And Political Movements
22. Popular Culture and Politics
23. Technology, Social Media, and Politics
Part E: International and Regional Politics
24. Resources: Opportunities and Challenges
25. Regionalism and Regional Integration
26. Pan-Africanism and the African Union
27. Africa’s International Relations
Part F: Conclusion
28. The Future of African Politics
About the Author
TOYIN FALOLA is the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities and a Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, USA. Falola has published over a hundred books and is the recipient of twenty‑eight honorary doctorates as well as several lifetime achievement awards
