Conceptualizing the state, state fragility and resilience in the political economy of sub-Saharan Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 19-34
Author(s):  
John Idriss Lahai ◽  
Isaac Koomson
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
The State ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
The Political ◽  
State Fragility ◽  
Sub Saharan

Deinstitutionalization of the State and Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Contribution to the Critique of the Neoinstitutionalist Analysis of Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 418-437
Author(s):  
Fernando Lopez-Castellano ◽  
Roser Manzanera-Ruiz ◽  
Carmen Lizárraga
Keyword(s):  
State Formation ◽  
Postcolonial Theory ◽  
Jel Classification ◽  
The State ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Environment ◽  
Historical Process ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Africa Rising

In recent years, a euphoric shift has taken place, typified by the narrative of “Africa rising,” which attempts to promote the idea of an economically emerging continent. In the Afro-optimist discourse, the idea is implicit that the neoliberal narrative has triumphed. However, critical voices argue that the discourse ignores the political environment under which African growth has been produced. This article critically reflects on the explanations of the neoinstitutionalist approach to development, the historical process of state formation and colonization in Africa. Following the proposal of postcolonial theory, sovereignty, tax, and violence are analyzed. Finally, the contradictory policies of the neoliberal experiment are demonstrated, which are leading to the deinstitutionalization of the State and to violence.JEL Classification: F54, F63, E02, N17

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