State Constitutions and Governments without Essence in Post-Independence Africa

Africa is the poorest continent on earth. Yet Africa is very rich in natural and human resources. This book looks at what is wrong with Africa from the point of the purpose and essence of the government and presents alternatives to democratic forms that could better fit in segmented societies like those in Africa.

This book in a diagnostic approach looks at the problems plaguing Africa, a continent rich in human and natural resources yet the poorest in the world. The main question is: what is the purpose of government in Africa? As illustrated by different empirical examples, the study argues that the creation of states and governments after colonialism was a «false start» and was not impacted by the social contract principle of men forming government to preserve the common good. The result is a leadership culture of government against the people with weak institutions in favour of strong autocratic rulers. The core of this study is a solution seeking approach with alternative political forms.

Autorentext

Joy Alemazung is a Senior Analyst in the Peace and Security Section of the Global Governance Institute in Brussels, focusing on state transformation and on good governance in Sub-Saharan Africa. He holds a double MA in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Kiel. He is currently an Associate Lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences in Bremen and a Senior Fellow and Chairman of the African Good Governance Network.

Zusammenfassung
«Cherished truth well spoken about a society saddled by governors whose greed and corruption keep their people in constant poverty.» (Michael Tazanu Asaba)
«A brilliant, lucidly written with logical consistency and thought touched study based upon founded theories and panoramic details of applied facts and empirical examples. In this book I call him a 'good doer'.» (Prof. Samir Dasgupta, University of Kalyani, India)

Inhalt
Contents: Government without purpose Social contract theories and Africa The false start Nation-state building Failed and successful governance Democratic institutions Re-constitution Consociationalism and constitutionalism.