The Failure Of The Centralized State: Institutions And Self-governance In Africa - Couverture souple

Wunsch, James; Olowu, Dele; Editors *; Harbeson, John W; Ostrom, Vincent; Insulza, Jose M

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0813373786 ISBN 13 : 9780813373782

Editeur : Westview Press, 1990

Synopsis

After nearly three decades of post-colonial independence in Africa, the shortcomings of the centralist strategy of nation building and economic development have become evident. Development has stagnated, rural welfare has declined, ethnic conflicts have intensified, civil wars abound and many civilian regimes have fallen to military despotisms or rule as narrow oligarchies. This book seeks to explains why the centralized African state has failed. Contributors relate contemporary African history to theories of organizational behaviour, collective action, constitutional choice, public administration and institutional analysis, arguing that the centralist paradigm is fundamentally flawed in its theories of the basis of social order, the sources of political unity and the origins of economic development. The contributors discuss the breakdown of social processes and structures indirectly caused by the policies of the centralized state and examine the constitutional principles that might provide a basis for more effective national government throughout the African continent.

A propos du livre

À propos de l'auteur

John W. Harbeson is professor of political science in the Graduate School and at City College of the City University of New York and the author of The Ethiopian Transformation (WestviewPress 1988).

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Westview Press
• Date d'édition: 1990
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0813373786
• ISBN 13: 9780813373782
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 334
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible