Postcolonialism, the politics of ethnic and religious identity, and the role of women in African society and politics have become important, and often connected, foci in African studies. Here, fifteen chapters explore these themes in tandem. With essays that span the continent, this volume showcases the political histories, challenges, and promise of contemporary Africa.
Written in honor of Crawford Young, a foundational figure in the study of African politics, the essays reflect the breadth and intellectual legacy of this towering scholar and illustrate the vast impact Young had, and continues to have, on the field. The book’s themes build from his seminal publications, and the essays were written by leading scholars who were trained by Young.Acknowledgments
Prologue Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Introduction: The Legacies of Crawford Young Scott Straus and Aili Mari Tripp
Part I. The Colonial and Postcolonial State in Africa
1 State Development in Contemporary Africa William Reno
2 Third-Wave Democracy and the State in Sub-Saharan Africa John W. Harbeson
3 The Colonial Legacy of Policing as State Building Kaden Paulson-Smith
Part II. Rethinking the Politics of Identity
4 Rethinking the Politics of Identity Rachel Betty Riedl
5 Sectarian Identity Formation and the Future of the African Postcolonial State: Lessons from Nigeria Dauda Abubakar
6 The Politics of Identity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: The Enduring Power of Crawford Young’s Analysis and Its Limits Timothy Longman