Introduction to African Politics

Alex Thomson is an academic with three decades experience of teaching and researching African politics. He is currently a lecturer at Coventry University in the United Kingdom.

"This introduction to African politics provides a solid overview of the continent, through the presentation of a succession of thematic issues illustrated by the presentation of detailed case studies. The chapters’ didactic approach and its systematic treatment of the interplay between state, civil society and external interests contributes to draw a comparative and global perspective that should help readers to get a better grasp of the rise of Africa phenomenon." Daniel C. Bach, CNRS Research Professor Emeritus, University of Bordeaux, France"This new edition builds upon the insightful and penetrating observations and arguments of its predecessors. Balanced - giving in to neither excessive optimism nor pessimism - but inspiring. It makes African politics something living, human and seriously aspirational. A student of Africa could ask for no better introduction."Stephen Chan OBE, SOAS University of London, UK"In what is arguably the best textbook available on African politics, Alex Thomson offers an exhaustive and perceptive analysis of the African state and civil society in historical perspective, from the indigenous to colonialism and post (or neo) colonialism. The topics covered include, ideology; ethnicity; religion; social class; legitimacy; coercion and sovereignty. Each chapter is usefully complemented by a country case-study. In my opinion, this new edition of An Introduction to African Politics constitutes an excellent resource for undergraduate students but will also greatly benefit laypersons interested in the subject."Guy Martin, Winston-Salem State University, USA"A book that keeps on giving: this fifth edition remains the seminal introduction to African politics – an academically rigorous first read for students, business and policy interested in Africa."Alex Vines OBE, Africa Director, Chatham House, UK

• Part 1: Introductions and the Historical Inheritance 1. Introduction: State, civil society and external interests 2. History: Africa’s pre-colonial and colonial inheritance Part 2: The Dominant African State, 1960s-1970s 3. Ideology: Nationalism, socialism, populism and state capitalism 4. Ethnicity and religion: ‘Tribes’, gods and political identity 5. Social class: The search for class politics in Africa 6. Legitimacy: Neo-patrimonialism, personal rule and the centralisation of the African state 7. Coercion: Military intervention in African politics 8. Sovereignty I: External influences on African politics Part 3: The Weakened Africa State, 1980s-1990s 9. Sovereignty II: Neo-colonialism, structural adjustment and Africa’s political economy 10. Authority: The crises of accumulation, governance and state collapse Part 4: The Re-fashioned African State, 1990s-present 11. Democracy: Multi-party elections re-legitimising the African state? 12. Hybrid regimes: ‘Africa rising’, stalled transitions, or something in-between? Part 5: Conclusions 13. Conclusions: The changing relationship between state, civil society and external interests in post-colonial Africa