In “War and the State in Africa,” Jeffrey Herbst states...

Intro to Comparative Politics In War and the State in Africa, Jeffrey Herbst states that †¦it should be recognized that there is very little evidence that African countries, or many others in the Third World, will be able to find peaceful ways to strengthen the state and develop national identities. Do you agree with Herbsts argument? Why? Lei Zhang Professor Dickson 2/10/2011 ï ¿ ½ Although African countries are facing many severe problems including weak national identities and limited governmental capabilities, war might not be the only way to strengthen the state and develop national identities. When we consider the intense globalization undertaken by the world, collaboration by African unification provides another choice†¦show more content†¦Weak national identity in African states is one of the problems discussed by Herbst. If Africa is united as a whole and becomes strong over time, national identities, or even ethnic identities attached to each individual state or ethnic group will gradually erode, and Africanness will become the new identity. The definition of national identity is a group of people bound together by a common set of political aspiration.ï ¿ ½ Since Africans share similar colonial history and face equally impoverished situations, why cant African states collaborate and unite as a whole, like the European Union has since 1952 and the existing African Union since 2002. This Africanness can be the new national identity which holds Africans together. For example in the history of the United States, during the early period after independence, citizens traveling abroad didnt recognize themselves as the citizens of the U.S. as a whole, but rather identified themselves with the individual state they originally resided from. As the country became stronger over time, the state identity was replaced with the real national identity.ï ¿ ½ Someone may argue the fact that some confronting societies that are often fragmented and have little orientation to the state as a whole.ï ¿ ½ Therefore, how is each state and ethnic group willing toShow MoreRelatedSomalias Struggle for Power Essay example1524 Words   |  7 PagesSomalia’s struggle for power to establish a sovereign Somali state has raised international concerns of terrorism, piracy, human trafficking and famine causing instability locally and throughout the Horn of Africa. Although U.S. backed Somali Federal Government (SFG) has had some recent success against the al Qaeda (AQ) linked al-Shabaab, Somalia continue to face local and regional border disputes. Somalia has historically relied on outside actors who later abandoned Somalia due to a shift in foreignRead MoreThe Roots of Apartheid: South Africa’s Colonial Experience Essay1673 Words   |  7 PagesIn recent years, there have been efforts to understand the institution of apartheid in South Af rica. From the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to general study into the history of South Africa, much scholarship has been devoted to the study of the effects of apartheid and the atrocities committed in the post-World War II period. However, one topic remains largely un-researched—the origins of the vast apartheid structure instituted by the Herenigde (Reunited) National Party (HNP) in the late 1940’sRead MoreThe Issue Of Gender Related Violence2883 Words   |  12 Pagesthat the incidence of violence against women could be reduced by way of a stronger state. The second is that the incidence of violence against women is best addressed with greater representation and leadership by women. This paper will examine both of these arguments. It will conclude that neither explanation has the potential to resolve issues of gendered violence independently. The combination of a strong state and adequate female representation in parliament will decrease the prevalence of violenceRead MoreFailed States and Civil Wars: Somalia Essay2379 Words   |  10 PagesFailed States and Civil Wars: Somalia The history of Somalia is a bloody one, filled with failed occupation, anarchy and civil war. Early Somalia established itself as a merchant state. Its key geographical location by the natural strait between the Horn of Africa and Yemen made it a focal point for trade.This essay will explore the history of internal struggles of the Somalilands and its many wars. It will investigate the colonial influences and conflicts between Somalia and its imperial occupiersRead More The Collapse of Somalia and Economic Considerations Essay4780 Words   |  20 PagesSomalia is a homogenous state made up of a single ethnicity, religion and culture. This led to a relatively peaceful history until Somalia was colonized by the British, French, and Italians in the 19th century. However, Somalia’s single ethnicity is broken into different clans, and sub-clans and this region’s lack of natural resources led to a fracturing of society, violence, and eventually civil war at the end of the 2 0th century. Despite the deterioration of society and state throughout the 70s andRead MoreInstitution as the Fundamental Cause of Long Tern Growth39832 Words   |  160 Pagespolitical power, while groups with greater economic might typically possess greater de facto political power. We therefore view the appropriate theoretical framework as a dynamic one with political institutions and the distribution of resources as the state variables. These variables themselves change over time because prevailing economic institutions affect the distribution of resources, and because groups with de facto political power today strive to change political institutions in order to increaseRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesOrganizational Behavior This page intentionally left blank Organizational Behavior EDITION 15 Stephen P. Robbins —San Diego State University Timothy A. Judge —University of Notre Dame i3iEi35Bj! Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo Editorial Director: Sally Yagan Director of Editorial Services: