Africa's illiberal state-builders (original) (raw)

The paper examines the complexities surrounding state-building in Africa, challenging prevailing paradigms that often characterize African states as failures within a liberal framework. It argues that the predominant narratives, whether depicting a teleological progression towards liberal democracy or framing African governance through the lens of 'failed states', overlook alternative state-building agendas that are operational within the continent. By emphasizing the need to analyze African nations through their unique historical and political lenses, this work seeks to redefine the understanding of the African state and its dynamics.