Reconceptualizing State Building in Africa (I)
Reconceptualizing State Building in Africa (I):
Non-State Systems, Decentralization and Refounding African Statehood
by Mark Massey Jr.
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State building is asserted as the remedy to state collapse. It is heralded as both an immediate solution to contemporary collapse and the preventive medicine against future collapse. It has ascended to a new level of importance in the post-9/11 era. Analysts deem failed states more of a threat to international security than powerful, hegemonic ones, reflecting one prominent scholar’s observation that “chaos has replaced tyranny as the new challenge” of the 21st century. Yet, state building is exceedingly difficult and complex; its track record is mixed at best. This series of four articles, under the heading of “Reconceptualizing State Building in Africa,” aims to provide a reconceptualization of state building. This introduction lays out the arguments to follow in the proceeding articles, in order to provide a roadmap connecting the arch of the overall series.
The troublesome record has as much to do with how we misconceive state collapse (the problem) as how we conceive state building (the solution). Thus the first article, “Start by Rethinking State Collapse,” critiques the traditional theories of state collapse and offers an alternative way of understanding it. It presents seven key points—the seven deadly sins of state collapse theory. Some of these points identify erroneous assumptions and misunderstandings that must be shed, and some of these points suggest new ways to look at the issue. The traditional theories are constrained by state-centric dogmas of political science that oversimplify the problem (and thus solution). By adopting a multi-disciplined understanding that incorporates lessons from anthropology, sociology and conflict economics, we develop a more comprehensive understanding of why states fail—and how to rebuild them.
The second article, “The Unbearable Lightness of Governance,” argues for a fundamental reconsideration of traditional state building approaches. The standard centralized, top-down strategy is counter-productive. Instead, efforts must cultivate bottom-up, decentralized approaches based on fostering local governance.
The third article, “Below and Beyond the State,” explores the implications of non-state systems (i.e. non-state structures, networks and complexes that provide economic, social and/or political services in cases of state collapse/failure). The emergence of such systems is an overlooked and under-researched trend. Analysts typically dismiss them as temporary, criminal offshoots of anarchy. But this is premature and erroneous. These systems must be understood as emerging orders that challenge fundamental assumptions about state-society relations. While some are oppressive and violent, others are peaceful and democratic. We must stop ignoring them and start tracking them. The article looks at Somaliland (Northern Somalia) as a case study. Though Somalia is assumed to be a zone of violent anarchy, Somaliland’s non-state system of “governance without government” is organically evolving from the bottom-up. It is surprisingly peaceful and democratic with “high levels of legitimacy and local ownership” capable of providing significant levels of governance, public security and social services. It is striking how, in the absence of international support and recognition, Somaliland’s bottom-up, organic, democratic peace stands in stark contrast to the violent, internationally-led, top-down state building failures in Southern Somalia. There are other similar cases across Africa. Thus far we have ignored them to our own detriment. However, they could prove to be building blocks for rejuvenating legitimate, stable and representative governments in Africa.
The fourth article, “Lessons for State Building,” identifies the lessons and implications for state building. While the previous articles focused on the “why,” it focuses on the “how.” It suggests ways to incorporate these lessons and apply them to the design and on-the-ground implementation of state building missions.
As a collective, these articles are meant to open new perspectives urging state builders to craft nuanced approaches that fuse internationally assisted, top-down methods with organic, bottom-up reconstruction.
Download The Full Article: Reconceptualizing State Building in Africa (I)
Mark Massey, Jr. works for The Louis Berger Group, Inc., an engineering and economic development firm focusing on stabilization and reconstruction programs in conflict countries. He holds an MA in International Conflict Studies from the University of London’s King’s College and a BA in Political Science and History from McGill University.
Editor’s Note: This essay begins the first part of a four part series.
