Conflict and Instability

Question 1

Which 3 topics need to be addressed for conflict and instability?

Answer 1

Time frame and unnatural borders
Postcolonial weak state establishment (case studies)
Economic interference and development

Question 2

What are the 3 topics for economic interference and development in conflict and instability?

Answer 2

Cold war interference
Post-Cold war pressures and consequences
‘Kicking away the ladder’

Question 3

What were the main issues of Cold War interference on conflict and instability?

Answer 3

African states seen as ‘pawn states’

Massive militarisation

Question 4

What were the main issues of post-Cold War pressures on conflict and instability?

Answer 4

No longer an ‘alternative to democracy’
Electoral violence
Leftover militarisation

Question 5

What were the main issues of ‘kicking away the ladder’ on conflict and instability?

Answer 5

IMF concept of ‘good policies’ for access to donors and SAPs were counter to what Western states themselves had used
Prerequisites proved equally false (US universal suffrage 1965)

Question 6

What are the two theorists for conflict and instability?

Answer 6

Jackson (characteristics of weak states and causes for internal conflicts)
Ha-Joon Chang (kicking away the ladder)

Question 7

What are Jackson’s characteristics of weak states?

Answer 7

Patrimonialism, institutional weakness, economic crises, legitimacy and political crises

Question 8

What are Jackson’s causes of internal conflict?

Answer 8

Patronage > manipulation, ethnic politics, exclusive politics, centralisation> authoritarianism, warlord politics and war economies

Question 9

What are the case studies for postcolonial weak states leading to conflict and instability?

Answer 9

Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
Sudan
Cameroon
Nigeria
Rwanda/Burundi

Question 10

Explain the case of Republic of Congo for postcolonial conflict and instability.

Answer 10

French crushed opposition for first democratic election (feared Soviet)
Illegitimacy > Insecurity > Repression
One-party socialist coup follows

Question 11

Explain the case of Sudan for postcolonial conflict and instability.

Answer 11

1956 constitution does not address question of secular/Islamist state
1956 constitution does not address the question of a federal structure (despite 600 ethnicities and 400 languages)

Question 12

Explain the case of Cameroon for postcolonial conflict and instability.

Answer 12

The French-backed post-independence government inherited a civil war between UPC (nationalist) and France
Illegitimate government

Question 13

Explain the case of Nigeria for postcolonial conflict and instability.

Answer 13

Federal structure under Britain had maintained/exacerbated ethnic divisions
Economic and education distribution had further exacerbated this
Each ethnic group feared the power of the others

Question 14

Explain the case of Rwanda for postcolonial conflict and instability.

Answer 14

Pre-independence elections give extremely oppressed Hutu majority power
Grievance claims lead to mass violence and oppression against Tutsi
Post-independence elections the Hutu government now has massive Tutsi grievance claims as well, more violence ensues