African Realism: Reconceptualising Notions of State Weakness in Western Thought

Tricia Tinashe Jakwa

African Realism: Reconceptualising Notions of State Weakness in Western Thought

Tricia Tinashe Jakwa

School of Social Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

Abstract

This paper critically engages dominant understandings of African state (in)capacity, particularly notions of state ‘failure’, ‘fragility’ and ‘weakness’. Drawing from Ali Al’amin Mazrui’s delineations of latent, imminent, and active instability, it is argued that the contemporary ‘Westphalian’ international system and the nation-state are characterised by latent-imminent instability. Using Zimbabwe as a case study, it is argued that it is neither a weak, fragile or failed state. Rather, it is a strong unstable state and thus, highlights the need to reconceptualise democracy in Africa.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	217-233
Journal	Journal of Pan African Studies: an international medium of African culture and consciousness
Volume	10
Issue number	2
Publication status	Published - Apr 2017
Event	Africa: Moving the Boundaries: 39th African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific (AFSAAP) Annual Conference - University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia Duration: 5 Dec 2016 → 7 Dec 2016 Conference number: 39 http://afsaap.org.au/conference/perth-2016/

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Cite this

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title = "African Realism: Reconceptualising Notions of State Weakness in Western Thought ",

abstract = "This paper critically engages dominant understandings of African state (in)capacity, particularly notions of state {\textquoteleft}failure{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}fragility{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}weakness{\textquoteright}. Drawing from Ali Al{\textquoteright}amin Mazrui{\textquoteright}s delineations of latent, imminent, and active instability, it is argued that the contemporary {\textquoteleft}Westphalian{\textquoteright} international system and the nation-state are characterised by latent-imminent instability. Using Zimbabwe as a case study, it is argued that it is neither a weak, fragile or failed state. Rather, it is a strong unstable state and thus, highlights the need to reconceptualise democracy in Africa.",

keywords = "Zimbabwe, International relations, State-building, Governance, Global governance, Colonisation, Policy transfer, Democracy, Sovereignty",

author = "Jakwa, {Tricia Tinashe}",

year = "2017",

month = apr,

language = "English",

volume = "10",

pages = "217--233",

journal = "Journal of Pan African Studies: an international medium of African culture and consciousness",

issn = "0888-6601",

number = "2",

note = "Africa: Moving the Boundaries : 39th African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific (AFSAAP) Annual Conference ; Conference date: 05-12-2016 Through 07-12-2016",

url = "http://afsaap.org.au/conference/perth-2016/",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - African Realism

T2 - Africa: Moving the Boundaries

AU - Jakwa, Tricia Tinashe

N1 - Conference code: 39

PY - 2017/4

Y1 - 2017/4

N2 - This paper critically engages dominant understandings of African state (in)capacity, particularly notions of state ‘failure’, ‘fragility’ and ‘weakness’. Drawing from Ali Al’amin Mazrui’s delineations of latent, imminent, and active instability, it is argued that the contemporary ‘Westphalian’ international system and the nation-state are characterised by latent-imminent instability. Using Zimbabwe as a case study, it is argued that it is neither a weak, fragile or failed state. Rather, it is a strong unstable state and thus, highlights the need to reconceptualise democracy in Africa.

AB - This paper critically engages dominant understandings of African state (in)capacity, particularly notions of state ‘failure’, ‘fragility’ and ‘weakness’. Drawing from Ali Al’amin Mazrui’s delineations of latent, imminent, and active instability, it is argued that the contemporary ‘Westphalian’ international system and the nation-state are characterised by latent-imminent instability. Using Zimbabwe as a case study, it is argued that it is neither a weak, fragile or failed state. Rather, it is a strong unstable state and thus, highlights the need to reconceptualise democracy in Africa.

KW - Zimbabwe

KW - International relations

KW - State-building

KW - Governance

KW - Global governance

KW - Colonisation

KW - Policy transfer

KW - Democracy

KW - Sovereignty

M3 - Conference article

SN - 0888-6601

VL - 10

SP - 217

EP - 233

JO - Journal of Pan African Studies: an international medium of African culture and consciousness

JF - Journal of Pan African Studies: an international medium of African culture and consciousness

IS - 2

Y2 - 5 December 2016 through 7 December 2016

ER -

African Realism: Reconceptualising Notions of State Weakness in Western Thought

Abstract

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