POLS 3000 EXAM Flashcards
Birdsong by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The story focuses on a young Nigerian woman’s affair with an older, married man, delving into how gender impacts women’s lives.
The narrator becomes increasingly frustrated as her relationship falls apart, leading to outspokenness and a final outburst.
Urban Africa, specifically Lagos, is depicted as “relentlessly unpretty” with ubiquitous cell phones and congested streets due to “okadas” (motorcycle taxis).
Adichie portrays calculating or deceitful men contrasted with “invisible” women, offering an unromanticized view of traditional leadership.
The Voter by Chinua Achebe (CRITICAL)
A political narrative highlighting corruption, power struggles, and moral dilemmas within a local Nigerian village.
Roof, a respected figure, faces a moral dilemma when offered bribes by opposing political parties, ultimately tearing the ballot in half as a compromise.
Achebe explores the clash between African culture and British colonialism’s modernization efforts, suggesting that embracing certain colonial legacies may be necessary for progress.
Aristide R. Zolberg, “The One-Party Ideology” (LIBERAL
Discusses the formation and dissemination of one-party ideologies in French-speaking Africa, notably Guinea under Sekou Touré.
Examines the role of ideology in creating political order amidst changing international systems and colonial legacies.
Highlights the themes of unity, opposition suppression, and the centralization of power within one-party systems across West Africa.
Bruce Gilley, “Chinua Achebe on the Positive Legacies of Colonialism” (LIBERAL)
Explores Achebe’s nuanced views on colonialism, emphasizing the positive aspects such as state formation and nation-building in Nigeria.
Contrasts Achebe’s evolving perspectives from revolutionary anti-colonialism to a more nuanced critique, advocating for reclaiming certain colonial legacies for development.
Challenges the dominant anti-colonial narrative in African affairs, suggesting a reevaluation of colonial legacies for state building and national identity.
Julius Nyerere, “Democracy and the Party System”(CRITICAL)
Nyerere critiques Western perceptions of democracy in Africa, arguing for an African-centric understanding rooted in community participation.
Discusses the challenges of adapting Western political systems to African contexts, advocating for a more inclusive and accountable political framework.
Proposes a shift towards true democracy where leaders are chosen and accountable to the people, challenging the dominance of Western political models.
Basil Davidson, “Africa Without History” (Black Man’s Burden: Africa and the Curse of the Nation-State) (CRITICAL)
Davidson delves into the historical conflict between traditional African leadership and modernizing forces during colonialism and independence.
Highlights the struggle between “traditionalists” and “modernizers” in Africa’s transition to the modern world.
Criticizes European imperialism for hindering progress and denying Africa’s past, contrasting with Japan’s approach to Westernization.
Examines the persistence of African sovereignty amidst imperialism and questions of power after British withdrawal.
Contrasts the Western-educated elite’s nation-state formation with African chiefs’ desire for modernization while preserving tradition.
Europeans and some African thought it was modern and enlighten to bring European culture and some organization to Africa- central to Basil argument. Davison argument- Sierra Leone and Liberia (mostly Sierra Leone) created as places of refuge for African slaves who had been recaptured or at least their ships captured. Liberated form states went to Liberia.
Basil- offers a twist to stories, not just Europeans who argue in favour of the established of a nation-state, it is the African liberated slaves who are pro-colonial.
Jeffrey Herbst, “The Political Kingdom in Independent Africa” (States and Power in Africa) (LIBERAL)
Explores state consolidation challenges post-independence, contrasting precolonial, colonial, and post-independence practices.
Discusses financial hurdles, reliance on foreign aid, and struggles in establishing efficient systems.
Addresses nationalism, the Cold War’s impact on African boundaries, and continuity in power practices.
Highlights administrative challenges at independence, emphasizing the importance of controlling territories.
Analyzes the shift from empirical to juridical statehood and persisting issues of national identity in many African countries.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, “The Myth of Tribe in African Politics” (Transition)
(CRITICAL)
Challenges the colonial notion of “tribe” and “tribal wars” in Africa, arguing they are colonial inventions.
Examines the impact of language and word usage on self-perception and perception of others during war.
Discusses the absence of the equivalent of “tribe” in many African languages, questioning its use in African conflicts.
Critiques the pejorative connotations of “tribe” and its role in perpetuating misunderstandings about African societies.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o- concern with of power is organized, ‘who or what social group holds power? for whom do they exercise that power? (this is what critical thinkers say).
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o regrets the simplification we make about Africa.
Doesn’t like the word tribalism or tribe.
‘certain word usage can dehumanize.
‘words become very important in the power relations between groups’ pg 17, to use those words is to degrade, and insult.
Westernizers have double standards, when you talk about Europe you use the word ‘nations’ but in Africa ‘tribe’.
Andrea Purdeková, David Mwambari, “Post-genocide identity politics and colonial durabilities in Rwanda” (Critical African Studies) (CRITICAL)
explores the persistence of colonial legacies in post-genocide Rwanda’s identity politics and nation-building.
Highlights the colonial foundation of division and conflict in Rwanda and the government’s attempts to de-ethnicize society.
Discusses the promotion of “Rwandanicity” and the rewriting of history to construct a new national identity.
Examines the emergence of new social divisions based on exile and the complexities of post-genocide identity reconstruction.
Critiques the dominance of ethnic frames and colonial legacies in shaping contemporary Rwandan society.
**They put all their blame on an identity group says Purdeková and Mwambari- that identity is attributed to those who invade. Their departure reinforced their identity.current government saying we are all Rwandan and that itself is an ethnic group.
Colonialism is the primary agent for exacerbating ethnic identity but also the ethnic consequences to get rid of.
The lingering of colonialism runs deep- difficult to establish a clean break.
Emma Paszat, “Why ‘Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill’? Rethinking the ‘Coherent’ State” (Third World Quarterly) (CRITICAL)
Examines the complexities of Uganda’s stance on gender and sexual minorities, highlighting conflicting positions within the state.
Discusses the role of different state actors and their responses to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill over time.
Analyzes the influence of civil society lobbying and international pressures on legislative processes.
Argues for a nuanced understanding of the Ugandan state and the diverse viewpoints within it regarding LGBTQ+ issues.
Kathleen Klaus, Jeffrey W. Paller, Martha Wilfahrt, “Demanding Recognition: A New Framework for the Study of Political Clientelism” (African Affairs) (LIBERAL)
Proposes a new framework for understanding political clientelism in African politics based on demands for social recognition.
Discusses citizen engagement in patron-client relationships as a means to demand recognition in various dimensions.
Examines cases from Ghana, Senegal, and Kenya to illustrate how citizens seek recognition through clientelist exchanges.
Highlights the emotional aspect of political engagement and its role in shaping democratic politics.
Challenges traditional instrumentalist and moral economy approaches to the study of clientelism.
Political recognition- there focus is the demands of the clients, the lowest client.
Kathleen- groups often want attention, and know they are being heard from someone above them.
Client essentially will gather their own clients and deliver them to you- Patronage, and Roof story, Chinua Achebe.
Clientelism emerges when there is no alternative or from independence. Kind of glue, not just for your identity it can reach to others. Is a means of keeping a state together, a glue that can bring everyone on board without force, maintaining order.
Dependent on a patron being able to stratify his or her client’s needs
State capture- have more resources of the state
Depending on resources, this could become bigger and bigger
Gerald Bareebe, “Predators or Protectors? Military Corruption as a Pillar of Regime Survival in Uganda” (Civil Wars) (LIBERAL)
Investigates corruption within Uganda’s defense sector and its role in political control and regime survival.
Highlights the regime’s tolerance and sometimes encouragement of military corruption for political ends.
Discusses systemic corruption in the Ugandan People’s Defense Force and its impact on economic reconstruction.
Argues that despite promises to curb corruption, the Museveni regime allows military officers to engage in fraudulent practices.
Examines the political and economic implications of military corruption for Uganda’s governance and development.
Patrick Chabal and Jean-Pascal Daloz, “The Illusions of Civil Society” (Africa Works: Disorder as Political Instrument, 1999)(LIBERAL)
Chabal and Daloz argue that political change in Africa has been minimal.
Confounded Expectations: Independence in Africa did not meet the expectations for political institutionalization and economic development.
State Failure: There is a consensus that the state has failed to contribute to politics’ institutionalization or economic development.
Civil Society Dichotomy: The dichotomy between state and civil society does not accurately reflect African realities.
Complementary Interaction: Rather than a “revenge” of civil society against the state, there is a mutually beneficial interaction between the two.
Shadow Boxing: Politics in Africa involves intricate interactions between state and society, sustaining infra-institutional networks.
Misleading Notions of Civil Society: The prevailing notion of civil society in Africa may derive more from wishful thinking or ideological bias than from a careful analysis of present conditions.
Instrumental Political Factors: The prevalence of civil society may be due to political factors rather than genuine social movements’ development.
African Modernization: Africa is pursuing its specific form of modernization rather than regressing to “age-old” ways.
Embryonic Societal Movements: There is limited evidence of functionally operating civil society in Africa, with only embryonic societal movements opposing central power.
Focus on Political Actors: Instead of vague categories like civil society, attention should be paid to the behavior of main political actors.
A central claim of Chabal and Daloz is that African societies have “an inbuilt bias in favor of greater disorder.”
* Political leaders encourage political disorder because it serves a purpose: it encourages dependence on them
**Make state look bad, iinstrumentalize disorder, and encourage NGOs to portray Africa as helpless.
That is where the money is. Idea is to start people start their own NGOs because that’s where the money goes and tell the world how impoverished Africa is, sustain and construct Africa as an impoverished place that is conflict ridden and wait for revenue to come in.
You instrumentalization your own poverty by telling the world it is there.
Abu Bah and Ibrahim Bangura, “Landholding and the Creation of Lumpen Tenants in Freetown” (Critical Sociology, 2023)
(CRITICAL)
Patrimonialism in Sierra Leone: Landholding creates lumpen tenants, reproducing patrimonialism post-war.
Economic Survival Strategies: Youth migrants in Freetown adopt various survival strategies within the patrimonial system.
Property Ownership and Inequality: Property ownership signifies wealth and class status, exacerbating socioeconomic divides.
Informal Agreements: Caretakers occupy land based on informal agreements with landowners, leading to exploitative relationships.
Patrimonial Power Dynamics: The power relation between landowners and caretakers is uneven, rooted in patrimonialism.
Marginalization and Exploitation: The caretaker phenomenon embodies patrimonialism, perpetuating exploitation and marginalization.
State Patrimonialism: Despite attempts to abolish it, state patrimonialism persists, growing with increasing poverty.
Silencing Local Voices: Stove interventions and technical solutions silence local voices and fail to address underlying issues.
Samer Abdelnour and Akbar M. Saeed, “Technologizing Humanitarian Space” (International Political Sociology, 2014) (CRITICAL)
Problematization in Humanitarian Space: Advocacy organizations simplify complex issues, promoting technical solutions over addressing root causes.
Technological Solutions: Fuel-efficient stoves are promoted as solutions to reduce rape in conflict zones, despite limited evidence of effectiveness.
Othering through Technology: Fuel-efficient stoves simplify and transform problematizations, perpetuating narratives of stove interventions’ effectiveness.
Silencing Alternative Narratives: Advocacy efforts marginalize alternative narratives of violence in conflict zones, reinforcing dominant problematizations.
Questionable Effectiveness: Stove interventions are based on powerful narratives rather than empirical evidence, rendering them unquestionable.
Complexity of Humanitarian Efforts: Advocacy for technical solutions overlooks underlying issues, emphasizing universal solutions over comprehensive understanding.
Fritz Nganje and Kgalalelo Nganje, “Liberal Internationalism Meets Third Worldism” (Third World Quarterly, 2019)
(CRITICAL AND LIBERAL)
Neo-Third World Behaviour: African states’ endorsement of elections amidst international criticism reflects a new form of third-worldism.
Response to Western Liberalism: African states counter Western liberal democracy promotion, asserting sovereignty against perceived US influence.
Geopolitical Dynamics: Geopolitics shapes international election observation outcomes, with African states resisting Western interference in electoral processes.
Continuity of Third Worldism: Despite the end of the Cold War, a new form of third-worldism emerges in response to Western hegemony.
Authoritarian Tendencies: Kabila’s regime mirrors Mobutu’s authoritarianism, perpetuating corruption and instability in the DRC.
Complexity of Neo-Third World Behaviour: Neo-third world behaviour adds complexity to election observation and democratization processes, resisting Western dominance while not fully embracing liberal democracy.
**Sympathetic to view that Western power is a threat to Africa and that Western powers aren’t always- to undermine African states to make them beholden to them and re colonialize them- Critical view.
Yet there is a lot of talk about agency.
They are resisting and getting things their own way (Africans) and have the opportunity to resist election monitors, and still get the election win they want- Liberal view.
All parties are self-interested. **
Robert H. Nelson, “Environmental Colonialism” (The Independent Review, 2003) (CRITICAL)
Religious Motivations: Western interactions with Africa, including environmentalism, have historical roots in religious ideals.
Environmental Colonialism: Contemporary environmentalism perpetuates neocolonialism in Africa, exploiting Africans under the guise of environmental conservation.
Missionary Spirit of Environmentalism: Environmental activism exhibits a missionary spirit, akin to defending colonialism under the guise of saving the environment.
Manipulation of African Images: Western perceptions of Africa as a “wild” and “untouched” landscape contribute to environmental colonialism.
Dependence on Foreign Aid: African governments rely on foreign aid, perpetuating Western influence and control over environmental and developmental policies.
Parks as Fantasies: National parks become fodder for Western environmental fantasies, masking their neocolonial implications.
Michela Wrong, “A Question of Style” (Transition, 1999)
Mobutu’s Real Estate Investments: Mobutu’s investments in Swiss real estate, particularly Les Miguettes, highlight his wealth and legal troubles post-exile.
Office of Ill-Gotten Gains: The OBMA aims to recover assets acquired through corruption by Mobutu and his associates, facing challenges in repatriating funds hidden abroad.
Transition to Kabila: Kabila’s regime continues corruption and instability reminiscent of Mobutu’s rule, perpetuating a cycle of oppression and impunity.
Failed Justice Attempts: Efforts to hold corrupt officials accountable are hindered by institutional barriers and lack of political will, reflecting a broader culture of impunity.
Cyclical Corruption: Despite hopes for change, the DRC remains mired in corruption and instability, with new rulers resembling old oppressors.
Nicola de Jager, “Sub-Saharan Africa’s desire for liberal democracy: civil society to the rescue?” (LIBERAL)
Argument 1: Sub-Saharan Africa faces more of a liberal deficit than a democratic one. While elections occur, the ruling elite resist constraints on their power once in office.
Argument 2: Organized civil society can address this deficit by advocating for civil liberties and holding the political elite accountable.
Argument 3: Sub-Saharan Africa’s deeply religious society can contribute to the development of civil society, which is essential for a liberal democracy.
Key Points:
Sub-Saharan Africans desire democracy in its liberal form, emphasizing civil liberties and personal freedoms.
The erosion of freedom globally, according to Freedom House, highlights the strain on democracy, even in established democracies.
Gyimah-Boadi’s findings suggest that while elections occur in African countries, there is a lack of substantive democracy.
The liberal deficit necessitates restraints on political power and protection of civic freedoms to satisfy citizen demands for democracy.
Michelle D’Arcy, “Rulers and their Elite Rivals: How Democratization has Increased Incentives for Corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa.” (CRITICAL)
Democratization in Africa has led to increased corruption despite the expectation of improved governance.
Elite rivalry intensifies under democratization, destabilizing rulers and making the consolidation of power difficult.
Corruption undermines efficient public administration, essential for good governance and socio-economic development.
Key Points:
Despite democratic progress, governance quality declines in many African states.
Increased political competition complicates elite alliances, while enhanced separation of powers limits rulers’ ability to control rivals.
Examples from Malawi and Kenya illustrate how democratization correlates with declining governance quality and increasing corruption.
Sisonke Msimang, “All is Not Forgiven: South Africa and the Scars of Apartheid.”
(CRITICAL)
South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy hasn’t fully addressed systemic racial and economic inequalities.
Apartheid’s legacy perpetuates racial disparities, with white privilege persisting post-apartheid.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) prioritized forgiveness over addressing the socio-economic effects of apartheid, leading to ongoing resentment among black South Africans.
Key Points:
The TRC emphasized individual crimes over systemic apartheid injustices, failing to address economic inequalities.
Collective amnesia among white South Africans regarding apartheid’s severity exacerbates racial tensions.
Sustainable racial reconciliation requires addressing entrenched economic disparities alongside historical grievances.
Racial apartheid was replaced with economic apartheid,
Simukai Chigudu, “Rhodes Must Fall in Oxford: a critical testimony.” (CRITICAL)
Rhodes Must Fall (RMF) in Oxford aimed to challenge colonial iconography and racism in academia.
The movement ignited debates on Britain’s imperial past and its implications for addressing racism today.
RMF’s call to remove Cecil Rhodes’s statue prompted a national discussion on how institutions memorialize colonial history and tackle present-day racism.
Key Points:
RMF highlighted Oxford University’s colonial legacy and its implications for contemporary racism.
Despite the statue remaining, RMF succeeded in sparking a national conversation on decolonizing education and addressing institutional racism.
Challenges remain in forging consensus on the purpose of RMF and decolonizing academia.
Chinua Achebe’s “The Voter”
Achebe’s work reflects themes of corruption, patronage, appearances of wealth, and an absence of political loyalty in the context of an election.
Tradition, particularly the concept of reincarnation and the presence of ancestors, plays a significant role in African society.
The election scenario depicted contrasts with the expectations of what Africa should be, according to the author.
Perspectives on Africa: Afro-Optimism vs. Afro-Pessimism
Afro-optimism presents a hopeful view of Africa’s future, emphasizing its diversity, achievements, and potential for growth and development.
Afro-pessimism, on the other hand, focuses on Africa’s challenges, such as poverty, war, and political instability, suggesting that the continent is being left behind in terms of development.
The Endlessly Conflicting Views on Africa’s Future
Liberal and Critical approaches offer contrasting views on Africa’s prospects, with the former emphasizing democracy and free markets, while the latter questions existing power structures and calls for justice and equality.
Perspectives as Broad and Inclusive Categories
The “Liberal” perspective encompasses views that advocate for democracy, free markets, and order, often drawing on Western models of governance.
The “Critical” perspective includes a range of views that challenge existing power structures, advocate for justice, and question assumed truths.
Aristide R. Zolberg (Liberal)
Focuses on Africa’s lack of political infrastructure and economic challenges.
Emphasizes the importance of order for democracy, advocating against one-party rule.
Bruce Gilley (Liberal):
Argues that Africa’s troubles are not primarily related to colonialism.
Cites Chinua Achebe to support the idea that certain aspects of colonialism could be beneficial for Africa.
Julius Nyerere (Critical):
Criticizes Western ideologies and advocates for one-party rule in Africa.
Emphasizes unity and independence from external influences.
Walter Rodney (Critical):
Challenges the benefits of colonialism, arguing that it removed Africans from their history and power structures.
Highlights the negative impact of colonial rule on African development and social structures.
Didn’t Europeans build railroads, schools, hospitals or provide for the health, housing and education of Africans?
Critical always saying, who is asking and who is making these statements and where is the power distributed.
“To be colonized is to be removed from history.”
“Overnight African political states lost their power, independence, and meaning —irrespective of whether they were big empires or small polities. … Political power had passed into the hands of foreign overlords. … So long as it lasted, not a single African state could flourish.”
Deniz Kellecioglu (Critical):
Criticizes mainstream economics for perpetuating colonial mentalities and subjugating ethics.
Calls for a rejection of liberalism and emphasizes the need for emancipatory ethics.
mental colonization” … “mental control” … “mental domination”
Physiological dimensions of colonialism. Perhaps colonialism is still acceptable. This thinking is what keeps Africa under control of the West
* “Deep coloniality”. That allows us to expect that mainstream economics is an accepted orthodox- means straight thinking, they accept liberal economics is just the way it is. We eternal this idea that liberal economics is really the only way. There is no alternative. Kellecioglu this is harmful to Africa.
Mainstream economics does not help Africa, they make Africa poor.
Patrice Lumumba (Critical):
Asserts African agency and rejects external ideologies.
Advocates for genuine independence and self-determination.
Hope that somehow people will be along for the ride.
• “… as long as Belgian troops are in the Congo we will be unable to get our program started. … Gifts are not appreciated. Independence which comes as a gift is not a good independence. Independence must be won for it to be real.”
Rights aren’t granted, only real if you take them from me.
Agency without outsiders.
Basil Davidson (Critical):
Argues against the imposition of European models of governance in Africa.
Emphasizes the importance of African history and indigenous governance structures.
Ignorance of history, denial is precisely what allows Europeans to subjugate and colonize it.
Basil- 3 takeaways: 1, African were led to believe that traditional African models weren’t good and only what comes from outside is of value. 2. The European model is largely foreign to Africa and inappropriate to Africa and that explains a lot of what we see in Africa today, this imposition- why Africa has challenges today, it is Europe’s fault. 3. If Africa had stayed true to itself, not been colonized and pro-colonial African advocates then it might have enjoyed greater prosperity today and in a better position to prosper. Africa needed to regret foreign models and stay on its own terms.
Jeffery Herbst (Liberal):
Suggests that African leaders voluntarily adopted features of colonial rule.
Criticizes African leaders for making decisions that contributed to the continent’s problems.
There are/were important continuities between the colonial and post-colonial eras. Even if they rejected colonialism in principle, African leaders embraced features of colonial rule in practice.
Herbst: Nations-states were not forced or imposed on Africa from outside. Disagree with Davison that states are imposed. A choice made by African leaders.
Herbst is a liberal. African leaders had a choice, they were not imposed. The outside world is forgiving to a fault, and sustains the weakest states in the world.
* According to Herbst, African post-independence leaders chose to accept them.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (Critical):
Highlights the role of colonialism in creating divisions among African ethnic groups.
Criticizes Western terminology and double standards in describing African societies.
Ethiopia and Liberia- Colonized?
Not colonized, but still faced challenges related to European imperialism.
