National Identity And Democracy In Africa

Province of South Africa

Historically, before the advent of colonialism, African continent was made up of independent states and kingdoms with organized political, social and economic practices. Most of the states and kingdoms had their social and political structures founded on various religious beliefs. In order to understand the fundamental issues in the post-colonial African nations, the socio-political students must understand the core socio-political pre-existence of these states and kingdoms. This book is aimed at liberating the minds of pre-colonial ideologies and colonial mediocrity and points African leaders and college students (the tomorrow leaders) on the right direction by studying my pragmatic solutions that could lead African Nations out of the present catastrophic experiences to utter freedom and prosperity.

This book examines how the interplay between globalization and the assertion of local identities is reshaping the political landscape of Africa. While defending their values against external forces, people simultaneously – and paradoxically – use the interconnectivity of global networks to maximize their particular interests. Focusing on the relation between national identity and state formation, the authors explore the far-reaching consequences of these contradictory dynamics. Although Africa shares many common trends with other parts of the world, it also displays distinctive features. A region characterized by the increased mobility of people, goods and ideas challenges some conventional assumptions of statecraft and also highlights the advantages of federalism – not merely as a constitutional option, but as a pragmatic device for managing diversity and holding fragile states together. The book further explores emerging types of state formation in the same political space, as exemplified by the combination of elements of a kingdom, an independent state and a national power base in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and the careful crafting of an alternative state within a state by the Solidarity Movement in South Africa. Informed by examples and case studies drawn from different parts of Africa, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars of Africa, politics, sociology, media studies and the social sciences more generally.

Textbook

The first of two companion volumes emanating from the partnership between the French Institute (IFAS), the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD, formerly FGD) and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and based on the 1997 conference of the same name held in Pretoria ; the second volume entitled, Shifting African Identities is based on the 1998 Cape Town conference, also of the same name. ; a third companion volume in this series on identity and nation building is entitled, National Identity and Democracy in Africa - a joint product of the Nordic Africa Institute, Sweden and the Mayibuye Centre at UWC based on their March 1997 conference.

In this dissertation, I utilize South Africa as a case study in order to examine how the government deploys transnational narratives of "colorblind" democracies in order to encourage a new national identity. In a country that has been largely defined by apartheid-era racial categories this shift in focus allows for a study of the ways in which new democracies can actively take up these transnational discourses of democracy and use and shape them to meet their needs. This also offer an important perspective on the way solidarity is attained, conflict is managed, and how belonging and identity is negotiated in a country that has transitioned from autocratic rule to participatory democracy. However, in a globalized world saturated with digital technologies that allow for unprecedented connectivity, these questions cannot be considered in isolation. By analyzing official government projects aimed at creating a cohesive vision of South African nationality in the post- apartheid moment I argued that when scholars grapple with questions of national identity formation and maintenance they must take into account the impact of transnational relationships and discourses on that process, thus showcasing the relationship of the transnational with the national

This book examines post-secession and post-transition state building in Somaliland, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. It explores two intimately linked, yet analytically distinct themes: state building and national identity reconstruction following secession and collapse. In Somaliland and South Sudan, rearranging the state requires a complete metamorphosis of state institutions so that they respond to the needs and interests of the people. In Sudan and Somalia, the reconfiguration of the remains of the state must address a new reality and demands on the ground. All four cases examined, although highly variable, involve conflict. Conflict defines the scope, depth and momentum of the state building and state reconstruction process. It also determines the contours and parameters of the projects to reconstitute national identity and rebuild a nation. Addressing the contested identity formation and its direct relation to state building would therefore go a long way in mitigating conflicts and state crisis.

“Engaging…detailed with current information about the situation in many African countries.” —African Studies Quarterly Reflecting on the processes of nation-building and citizenship formation in Africa, Edmond J. Keller believes that although some deep parochial identities have eroded, they have not disappeared—and may be more assertive than previously thought, especially in instances of political conflict. Keller reconsiders how national identity has been understood in Africa and presents new approaches to identity politics, intergroup relations, state-society relations, and notions of national citizenship and citizenship rights. Focusing on Nigeria, Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, and Rwanda, he lays the foundation for a new understanding of political transition in contemporary Africa. “This book would certainly be useful in graduate seminars on African politics, African history or ethnic politics. It is written in a clear, straightforward style that also makes it appropriate for use in advanced undergraduate classes. Keller also offers insights for policymakers and development practitioners who continue to grapple with the real-world consequences of citizenship conflicts.”—Journal of Modern African Studies