POLSCI 329S Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Political Geography, Nationstates
17 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Politics of Violence
9.13.16 Lecture Notes – State Formation in Africa
The number of states sharply increased in the 1960s
Bigger empires disappear and smaller states arise (most efficient according to Tilly!)
National state v. nation state
o Nation-states: a state whose people share a strong, linguistic, religious, and symbolic
identity – very homogenous
▪ Too ideal, there is usually a lot of diversity within a state
o Very few nation states (many Iceland, Finland, North Korea)
o National states: fixed territory and stable borders
▪ Monopoly of legitimate violence
▪ African states were states, but not by that definition
Wealth and state capacity are the best indicators for how often rebellions/insurrections occur
What defines a failed state?
o No territorial control
o Ineffective at collecting taxes
o Do not provide basic public goods
o Persistent violence (political and criminal)
o Wars with bordering states
o Civil wars
o Mass migrations
Fluidity of territory – incursions against territory doesn’t lead to war
o We no longer see this Darwinist fight for the best state
Main explanation: political geography of Africa
Nominal power legal boundaries of the state v. real power state’s ability to exert control over
society)
Three types of countries in Africa
Large countries with noncontiguous areas of high population density
o Exceptionally difficult to consolidate state power
o Hard to connect these centers
Hinterland countries: areas of high and medium population density in relatively small areas + vast
hinterlands (ex: Mali and Niger)
o Less than challenging than 1
Favorable geography: highest concentration near the capital, and then lower densities
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Document Summary
9. 13. 16 lecture notes state formation in africa. The number of states sharply increased in the 1960s. Bigger empires disappear and smaller states arise (most efficient according to tilly!) Wealth and state capacity are the best indicators for how often rebellions/insurrections occur. What defines a failed state: no territorial control, ineffective at collecting taxes, do not provide basic public goods, persistent violence (political and criminal, wars with bordering states, civil wars, mass migrations. Fluidity of territory incursions against territory doesn"t lead to war. Nominal power (cid:523)legal boundaries of the state(cid:524) v. real power (cid:523)state"s ability to exert control over. Main explanation: political geography of africa: we no longer see this darwinist fight for the best state society) Large countries with noncontiguous areas of high population density: exceptionally difficult to consolidate state power, hard to connect these centers.
