Jou nal o Social Sciences Vol. VIII, no. 2 (2025), pp. 203 - 216
Fascicle Social Science ISSN 2587-3490
Topic Philosophy eISSN 2587-3504
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
h ps://doi.o g/10.52326/jss.u m.2025.8(2).15
UDC 32:342:340.128(6)
POST-INDEPENDENCE STATE FORMATION IN AFRICA: A THEORETICAL
REVIEW
Dawi Mezgebe *, ORCID: 0009-0007-9395-2236
Addis Ababa Uni e si y, E hiopia
* Co esponding au ho : Dawi Mezgebe, dawi [email protected]
Recei ed: 04.02.2025
Accep ed: 06.08.2025
Abs ac . This a icle e iews key essen ial heo ies o unde s and he ac o s, na u e, and
cha ac e is ics o he pos -independence A ican s a e ha eme ged since he ea ly 1960s
decoloniza ion pe iod. In conduc ing academic esea ch, a heo y has mul iple schola ly
aluable pu poses, including he ques o unde s and how he social wo ld wo ks. Theo izing
s a e o ma ion is he ques o unde s and how s a e o ma ion in pos -independence A ica
di e s om o he pa s o he wo ld. Schola s a gue ha heo izing s a e o ma ion in pos -
independence A ica inco po a es deeply analysing he challenges o igina ing om he
p og ess o global economic and poli ical sys ems, iden i ying he key oles o p ominen
indi iduals, in es iga ing majo es ablishmen s o he s a e, and examining he powe
s uggle be ween social g oups and classes. Me hodologically, quali a i e app oach is
employed ha is explo a o y and desc ip i e by collec ing quali a i e da a om espec i e
sou ces. This s udy is aimed a emphasizing on examining he exis ing heo ies o s a e
o ma ion in pos colonial A ica. The indings o his s udy ha pos -independence A ican
s a es a e a i icially c a ed by he coe ci e Eu opean colonial ule based on hese wo key
heo ies: - he Leade ship/Na ion-Building and he Ma xis heo ies o s a e o ma ion.
Key wo ds: heo izing, pos -independence A ican s a es, Leade ship/ Na ion-Building & Ma xis
heo ies.
Rezuma . A icolul ece în e is ă eo iile esențiale pen u a înțelege ac o ii, na u a și
ca ac e is icile s a ului a ican pos -independență, apă u e încă din pe ioada de decoloniza e
de la începu ul anilo 1960. Teo e iza ea o mă ii s a ului în A ica pos -independen ă es e
cău a ea de a înțelege ceea ce di e ențiază o ma ea s a ului în A ica pos -independență de
al e pă ți ale lumii. Ce ce ă o ii susțin că eo e iza ea o mă ii s a ului în A ica pos -
independență înco po ează analiza ap o unda ă a p o ocă ilo ca e decu g din p og esul
sis emelo economice și poli ice globale, iden i ica ea olu ilo cheie ale uno pe soane
p oeminen e, in es iga ea p incipalelo ins i uții ale s a ului și examina ea lup ei pen u
pu e e din e g upu ile și clasele sociale. Me odologic, se oloseș e o abo da e cali a i ă
explo a o ie și desc ip i ă p in colec a ea de da e cali a i e din su sele espec i e. Aces
s udiu își p opune să pună accen ul pe examina ea eo iilo exis en e p i ind o ma ea
s a ului în A ica pos colonială. Cons a ă ile aces ui s udiu a a ă că s a ele a icane pos -
204 D. Mezgebe
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
independență sun c ea e a i icial p in dominația colonială eu opeană coe ci i ă, baza ă pe
aces e două eo ii cheie: eo iile conduce ii/cons ucției națiunii și eo iile ma xis e ale
o mă ii s a ului.
Cu in e cheie: Teo e iza e, s a e a icane pos -independență, conduce e/cons ucție națiunii și
eo ii ma xis e.
1. In oduc ion
In conduc ing academic esea ch, a heo y has mul iple schola ly aluable pu poses,
including " he ques o unde s and he way he social wo ld wo ks. I ' o eg ounds' ce ain
aspec s o he wo ld and p o ides a guide as o wha o in es iga e, [and i is] a amewo k
wi hin which o place obse a ions o eali y, enabling pa e ns o ideas o de elop" [1].
The e o e, he majo logic o heo izing s a e o ma ion in pos -independence A ica is he
ques o unde s and wha pos -independence A ican s a e is, and i ' o eg ounds' he key
poli ical, economic and social elemen s and ea u es o pos -independence A ican s a e, and
o e s a guide in heo e ically in es iga ing on he eme ging di e ences in i s o ma ion,
na u e, cha ac e is ics (poli ical, economic and social), and ac o s which ha e mainly and
c ucially con ibu ed in his p ocess.
Theo izing s a e o ma ion in pos -independence A ica is ela ed o he need o sea ch
o an all-inclusi e way o examining and schola ly unde s anding how and why he pos -
independence s a e is o med in A ica h ough employing i al heo e ical lenses enabling
pa e ns o hough s o de elop in desc ibing i s o e all g ow h and decline o e ime.
Acco ding o S a k [2], his inco po a es deeply analyzing he challenges o igina ing om he
p og ess o global economic and poli ical sys ems, iden i ying he key oles p ominen
indi iduals played, in es iga ing majo es ablishmen s o he s a e, and examining he powe
s uggle be ween social g oups and classes. These a e i al o ha e explici knowledge abou
he o igin, na u e, and poli ical, economic and social cha ac e is ics o he pos -independence
A ican s a e, including he ac o s who mainly played a c ucial ole in i s o ma ion.
Acco ding o Kelle [3], some schola s o social science s u dily a gue o he absence
and lack o a p ecise model o heo y in analyzing he o igin and o ma ion o he pos -
independence A ican s a e; hence, his s udy is aimed a disp o ing he abo e a gumen by
emphasizing on examining he exis ing heo ies o s a e o ma ion in pos colonial A ica. In
his s udy con ex , unde s anding o he pos colonial s a e o ma ion o A ica mainly elies
"on he analysis o a emp s made by A icans o build poli ical ins i u ions which sui hei
needs in an e a when hey ha e been aced wi h many cons ain s" [2].
The e o e, he heo e ical e e ence o pos -independence s a e o ma ion in A ica
can be analyzed om he Coe ci e heo y o s a e o ma ion pe spec i e because, acco ding
o Ca nei o [4], his o ically, i is he coe ci e heo y ha akes eno mous c edi o he
eme gence o he s a e h ough he use o o ce, and no a ional sel -in e es o
indi iduals/membe s o socie y. This is ue in A ican colonial his o y since i cons i u es he
mani es a ion o he coe ci e imposi ion o Eu opean colonialism on A ica. Colonialism has
made s a e o ma ion and cons uc ion an ongoing poli ical p ocess a e independence [5],
which is mainly ela ed o A ican s a es' a i icial na u e.
Pos -independence A ican s a es a e poli ically cha ac e ized as being a i icial,
ex e nally imposed, and pa imonial. Because o his, hey a e suscep ible o in a- and in e -
s a e wa [6], which has con ibu ed o he ise o nega i e poli ical consequences and
spillo e e ec s on he con inen poli ically, economically, and socially.
Pos -independence s a e o ma ion in A ica: a heo e ical e iew 205
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
2. Objec i es
Since he opic o he a icle is "Pos -Independence S a e Fo ma ion in A ica:
Theo e ical Re iew," i has he p ima y academic objec i e o e iewing key heo ies which
a e essen ial o clea ly unde s and he ac o s, na u e, and poli ical, economic, and social
cha ac e is ics o a pos -independence A ican s a e ha has eme ged since he ea ly 1960s
decoloniza ion pe iod. The e o e, by conduc ing sepa a e schola ly in es iga ions and
e iewing each o hese wo key heo ies: - he Leade ship/ Na ion-Building and he Ma xis
heo ies o s a e o ma ion which a e iden i ied by hei speci ic cha ac e is ics, ea u es, and
elemen s, his s udy scien i ically a emp s o analyze he undamen al ac o s and he
signi ican ea u es (poli ical, economic and social) on he na u e and cha ac e is ics o he
pos -independence A ican s a e. These heo ies a e also essen ial in cla i ying he key oles
p ominen indi iduals played in pos colonial s a e o ma ion, explo ing he majo
es ablishmen s o he s a e, and examining he powe s uggle be ween social g oups and
classes.
3. Me hodology
Me hodologically, his s udy employed and applied a quali a i e esea ch app oach
wi h he p ima y ask o "explo ing a p oblem and de eloping a de ailed unde s anding o a
cen al phenomenon" [7]. By using he quali a i e app oach, his s udy gene a ed " esul s
ei he in non-quan i a i e o m o in he o m which a e no subjec ed o igo ous quan i a i e
analysis"[8], and hey a e pu ely explo a o y and explana o y. The ollowing me hod o
collec ing quali a i e da a om a ious sou ces was used: pee - e iewed jou nal a icles,
books, and ins i u ional publica ions.
Pee - e iewed a icles we e accessed h ough e-jou nals and online academic
da abases, ensu ing up- o-da e esea ch and schola ly insigh s we e used. Books,
monog aphs, and edi ed olumes p o ided in-dep h his o ical and heo e ical pe spec i es,
o e ing comp ehensi e backg ound knowledge. These sou ces we e ca e ully selec ed o
ensu e a well- ounded analysis, in eg a ing pe spec i es om academic and policy-o ien ed
li e a u e being acknowledged and app op ia ely e e enced. This pape has i e signi ican
pa s: pa one deals wi h he in oduc ion, pa wo deals wi h he objec i es o he s udy,
pa h ee mainly ocuses on me hodology, pa ou me iculously discusses each o he wo
key heo ies in he o ma ion o he pos -independence A ican s a e, namely: he Leade ship/
Na ion-Building and he Ma xis heo ies sepa a ely, and hen o wa ds i s indings, and he
conclusion wi h he e e ences a he end.
4. Theo ies o pos -independence s a e o ma ion in A ican
Acco ding o Smi h [9], poli ically, economically, and socially, sub-Saha an A ica has
p o ound di e ences in s a e o ma ion wi h Eu ope in pa icula and he collec i e Wes in
gene al. In heo izing s a e o ma ion in pos colonial A ica, i is impe a i e o explo e,
examine, and analyse he wo dominan heo ies, namely: - Leade ship/ Na ion-Building
(Webe ian) and he Ma xis heo ies o s a e o ma ion, because he demise o colonialism in
A ican poli ical science ga e p io i y and emphasized on in es iga ing pos -independence
s a e- o ma ion, hence i c edi ed "s udies in s a e- o ma ion as achie emen " [10].
Leade ship/ Na ion-Building (Webe ian) and he Ma xis heo ies o s a e o ma ion a e
impo an in unde s anding how he A ican pos colonial s a e is o med, in iden i ying he
undamen al ac o s, and he signi ican ea u es o i s na u e, including i s poli ical, economic
and social cha ac e is ics which a e e y i al in p o iding in-dep h knowledge on he
206 D. Mezgebe
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
his o ical link and con inui y be ween he colonial and pos -independen s a es, because
acco ding o Kanyinga [11], he pos colonial s a e is he con inui y o he colonial s a e wi h
he exis ence o ma ked poli ical and economic simila i ies. The e o e, hese heo ies a e
impo an in making schola ly in es iga ion and o wa ding signi ican insigh s in o why and
how he pos -independen A ican s a e was o med, he eby analyzing i s common na u e
and cha ac e is ics.
4.1 Leade ship / Na ion-Building Theo y o S a e Fo ma ion
The leade ship/na ion-building (Webe ian) heo y is c i ical in his s udy con ex
because i is usually conce ned wi h he ci cums ances o s a ehood a he han he
limi a ions on ins i u ional de elopmen . The Leade ship/Na ion-Building (Webe ian) heo y
is la gely labelled as " he indi idualis ic and idealis ic app oach in he philosophical sense o
emphasizing he c ea i e powe s o men,"[2].
This heo y mainly ocuses on he con ibu ion o independence-e a indi idual
poli ical leade s o A ica who, acco ding o Sou hall [12], e ec i ely es ablished he pa y
ha o ganized adequa e backing in making he asse ion o poli ical independence. In
unde s anding his heo y o s a e o ma ion in pos colonial A ica, i is essen ial o ecognize
he A ican expe ience o colonial domina ion a he global le el and emphasize A ica as "a
poli ical idea as well as a geog aphical ac wi h a dis inc i e ideology: A ican na ionalism"
[13], ha con ibu ed o he eme gence o indi idual poli ical leade s and majo poli ical
g oups in he an i-colonial s uggle. The p ominen schola s o his heo y include Da id
Ap e , Edwa d Shils, A is ide R. Zolbe g, and John Ca w igh . Speci ically, Ap e , Shils, and
Zolbe g, who quo ed Max Webe as hei heo e ical e e en , a e e y dominan .
Theo e ically, Da id Ap e and his scholas ic con ibu ion a e p edominan ly
go e ning and schola ly au ho i a i e in he e a o A ican independence du ing he ea ly
1960s. Ap e 's posi ion in his heo y ga e emphasis o pe sonal popula i y. He s ongly
a gued ha indi idual accep ance and suppo by he A ican mass "may gi e legi imacy o
new s a e ins i u ions, ollowing Webe 's no ion o cha isma, [and Ap e ] iewed Kwame
Nk umah as such a cha isma ic igu e in p e-independence days o he Gold Coas , and
bes owed upon him indi idual esponsibili y o he new s a e o Ghana" [2]. Acco ding o
S a k [2], in he A ican con ex , s uc u al- unc ionalis s s ess he c ea ed aspec o s a e
o ma ion wi h he e o o ' cons i u i e' indi iduals who ha e some con ol o e hei
poli ical li e and he poli ical ins i u ions which a e aiming a ensu ing he o de o he newly
eme ged pos -independence A ican s a es.
This heo y mainly elies on ecognizing he indi idual's poli ical e o , commi men ,
and in luence o ea ly independen A ican leade s because wi h he immedia e
independence, he leade s o he new A ican s a es ook o g an ed he o ma ion o he
na ion-s a e as he bes s a egy o consolida ing hei in e es wi hin he domes ic poli ics
[14]. This has been aken as a li ing es imony o how dominan poli ical igu es' in elligence
and capaci y we e used o ans o m he colonial s a e in he newly eme ged independen
s a es in which hey became p esiden s and opposi ion leade s [2]. Acco ding o Kelle [3],
pos -independence A ican leade s had sha ed iews on he p io i y and goal o he newly
eme ged s a e sys em, which was mainly a ached wi h i s new ole and in ol emen in
ad ancing, employing, and spea heading de elopmen e o s i espec i e o ideological
di e ences among hemsel es.
Pos -independence s a e o ma ion in A ica: a heo e ical e iew 207
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
The e o e, s a e o ma ion in pos colonial A ica became he indi idual esponsibili y
o leade s o an i-colonial s uggle. Immedia ely a independence, he new A ican leade s
we e o ced o ecognize and inhe i he a i icial s a es c ea ed by Eu opeans and o ced o
adop , ecognize, and ully accep he new s a e as he only en i y o o ganiza ion wi h i s
a i icially d awn colonial bounda ies [14], making pos -independence A ican leade s bo h
he icon o he s a e and " he embodimen o a social mo emen a i s base" [2].
The signi ican heo e ical ou come o he heo is s o Leade ship/Na ion-Building can
be deduced ha he new pos -independence A ican s a es a e he poli ical ou come o he
leade s o he an i-colonial s uggle in A ica who we e designa ed wi h an indi idual
' unc ion' o building hei own s a es, which a e explici ly designed by he Eu opean
colonialis s being he p oduc o "a bi a y colonial adminis a i e uni s designed as
ins umen s o domina ion, opp ession and exploi a ion" [15]. The heo is s o Leade ship and
Na ion-Building concluded ha pos -independence A ican s a es a e he consequence o he
ub ics implemen ed by colonialis s and independen A ican leade s [14]. Acco ding o his
heo y, he poli ical e o , esponsibili y, and commi men o he indi idual poli ical leade
in o ming he new independen s a e depended no only on himsel bu also on he s eng h
and in luence o his ideas, and he men who held hem du ing he decoloniza ion s uggle.
4.2 The Ma xis Theo y o S a e Fo ma ion
The classical Ma xis heo y is well iden i ied on i s key emphasis in " he class na u e
o he s a e" [16], and i c edi s he exis ence o s uc u ed/hie a chical ela ionship be ween
hose who con ol s a e powe , i.e., exploi ing /colonial /s a e class) Mo eo e , hose who a e
colonized/ opp essed/exploi ed. In his p ominen philosophical con ibu ion, Ma x iden i ied
wo sepa a e app oaches o analyzing he s a e-class ela ionship in which he ega ded he
s a e as somewha au onomous om he dominan class. He also desc ibed he s a e as an
ins umen ha se es he in e es s o he dominan class [17].
The Ma xis heo y o s a e o ma ion in pos -independence A ica emphasizes how
he s a e is being used o se e he in e es s o he dominan class. I is mainly conce ned
wi h he ho ough examina ion and analysis o he concep o class ha "deno es a g ouping
o indi iduals who sha e a common posi ion in he p ocess o p oduc ion conce ning he
owne ship o he means o p oduc ion" [18], and i s ela ionship o he s a e appa a us. The
li e a u e o Ma xis heo y analyses he poli ical, economic, and social des uc i e legacy o
colonialism and impe ialism imposed on pos -independence A ican s a es, and his can be
unde s ood in in es iga ing he a i icial colonial na u e o he A ican s a es, which is
cha ac e ized by co e-pe iphe y economic domina ion o e he pos colonial pe iod ha has
pe pe ua ed in coe cing and go e ning hei ins i u ional de elopmen [2].
Colonialism is impo an in examining pos -independence s a e o ma ion in A ica
h ough he Ma xis heo e ical lens, because " he mode o p oduc ion in A ican coun ies
unde wen undamen al change du ing he colonial pe iod wi h he consequen implica ion
o class o ma ion" [18]. Class o ma ion has i s oo in he dis inc uns able and unce ain
poli ical na u e/ ea u e o colonialism, and i is "always caugh be ween s a egies o
inco po a ing people mo e ully in o an empi e o ma king he di e en ia ion and
subo dina ion o conque ed people" [19]. One o he majo con ibu ions o colonialism in
A ican poli ics is i s in oduc ion o capi alism ha had shi ed/ eplaced p e-colonial mode
o p oduc ion in A ica pa ing he way o he ad en o new class s uc u e [18], and
appa en ly social s a i ica ion in A ica became mo e di e en ia ed wi h he imposi ion o
208 D. Mezgebe
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
selec i e Wes e n educa ion which con ibu ed on he g ow h o s a e machine y bo h a he
na ional and local le el.
In unde s anding he Ma xis heo y o s a e o ma ion in pos -independence A ica,
Hamza Ala i is a p ominen schola whose wo k is en enched in he amewo k o
impe ialism and colonialism. Ala i in ellec ually s a ed his poli ical iew o he Ma xis heo y
o s a e o ma ion in he a icle "The S a e in Pos colonial Socie ies - Pakis an and
Bangladesh." Ala i's iews do no di ec ly add ess he A ican issue in examining pos -
independence s a e o ma ion h ough he Ma xis heo e ical lens o s uc u ed class
ela ionships wi hin he s a e. Howe e , i is he mos impo an heo e ical pilla because i
o ced and in e es ed 'A icanis s' o e o in di e en ways o Ala i's epheme al heo e ical
iews [2]. Acco ding o Ala i, he colony is iden i ied as "o e de eloped" s a e o poli ical
en i y "because he basis o i s supe s uc u e lies in he me opole om which i is la e
sepa a ed a independence" [2].
A e independence, he ex-colonial s a e o he "o e de eloped" s a e is handed o e
o he newly eme ging local go e ning class, and his enabled i o un elen ingly exploi he
local economy o he newly independen s a e, ins umen alizing he s a e appa a us o i s
own poli ical and economic ad an age [3]. Acco ding o S a k [2], Ala i de ined a pos -
independence "o e de eloped" s a e as a class s uc u e ha is o ganized based on ' o eign
impe ialis bou geoisie', and i ully duplica ed no only he hough s, alues, and s a e
appa a us bu also he go e nmen ins i u ions and o ganiza ions used as ools o con olling
he local social g oups and classes. Acco ding o S a k [2], o he p ominen schola s o he
Ma xis heo y o s a e o ma ion in A ica include John Saul, based on his Tanzanian
expe ience. He desc ibed Ala i's heo e ical o mula ions as he bes example and e y
in o ma i e. Howe e , Saul p oposed ha he ideological ' unc ion' o he pos colonial s a e
has been neglec ed, which is he basis o c ea ing a hegemonic posi ion a ising om he
a i iciali y o i s bounda ies and he equi emen o 'pe iphe al capi alism' ha is e y
impo an o he newly eme ging e i o ial uni y and legi imacy.
The Ma xis iews o Ala i and Saul p o oked in e es ing deba e by se e al Ma xis
A icanis s, leading o se e al impo an eac ions. One o hem is Colin Leys, who
coun e a acked Saul's emphasis on ideology and a emp ed o con i m he emphasis on class
as he basis o his analysis o he s a e. Leys suppo ed an indi ec ins umen alism o class
in his book on Unde de elopmen in Kenya: The Poli ical Economy o Neocolonialism [20].
Ano he p ominen schola o he Ma xis heo y o s a e o ma ion is Michaela on F eyhold,
who a gued in he wo k published in I977, "The Pos colonial S a e and i s Tanzanian Ve sion,"
ha he pos colonial s a e is no as much unde he con ol o class wi hin he socie y o e
which i ules as he bou geoisie s a e, and can ac mo e independen ly because i is he class
o "pe y bou geoisie which iews i sel as a g oup bes cons i u ed o de elop he socie ies
a e independence" [16].
Ma xis heo y places p incipal emphasis on he class na u e o he s a e. In he A ican
con ex , i demons a es he s uc u al de e mina ion o he pos colonial s a e in pos colonial
socie y. The e o e, i is impo an o loca e he o igins o class and iden i y i s ypes o clea ly
unde s and he Ma xis heo y o s a e o ma ion in pos -independence A ica. Acco ding o
Tanga i [18], he mode o p oduc ion is he de e minan ac o in iden i ying social classes.
Pos -independence A ican s a es a e he ic ims o hei colonial legacy [3], which
inco po a ed A ica in o " he capi alis wo ld sys em and he capi alis mode o p oduc ion
[which] has become dominan in he con inen " [18]. I is a his his o ical junc u e ha no
Pos -independence s a e o ma ion in A ica: a heo e ical e iew 209
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
only he o igin o class in he mode n A ican poli ics can be aced which is loca ed "in he
socio-economic s uc u e o he colony and he ela ion be ween colonize and
colonized"[16], bu also on he "bases o economic and poli ical dependence [which] we e
laid, and he ounda ions o bu eauc a ic, a is oc a ic wel a e s a es we e es ablished" [3]
wi h dis inc classes in A ican poli ics. Being in he ea ly phase o o ma ion, he class
a angemen in he newly independen s a es is e y in ica e and agile [16]. Howe e , i is
i al o iden i y and ca ego ize classes in A ican poli ics ha hugely con ibu ed o i s
independence s uggle and s a e o ma ion p ocess. Acco ding o Tanga i [18], classes in
mode n A ican poli ics a e ca ego ized in o h ee: peasan y, he p ole a ia /A ican wo king
class, and he bou geoisie/s a e class.
The A ican peasan class is he la ges when compa ed wi h he o he wo social
classes. I s poli ical con ibu ion in he s uggle agains colonialism is e y immense, because
"in he colonial coun ies he peasan s alone a e e olu iona y, o hey ha e no hing o lose
and e e y hing o gain" [21]. The peasan s in pos -independence A ica ep esen he la ges
sec ion o he popula ion [14]. They a e he pilla o he ag icul u al sec o and he na ional
economy because ag icul u e is he sou ce o subsis ence wi h ood p oduc ion, he backbone
o na ional economies gene a ing huge o eign e enues om expo s, and he la ges
employing sec o [22]. In e ms o i s poli ical ole in pos -independence A ica, " he
peasan y is sys ema ically dis ega ded o he mos pa by he p opaganda pu ou by he
na ionalis pa ies" [21], making i a highly di ided, demobilized, docile, and ma ginalized
silen majo i y class, and in con empo a y A ican poli ics i is dis inc ly e y weak social base
[18]. The e o e, as a poli ical o ce and social class, he A ican peasan y has been
ma ginalized because " u al in e es s a e no likely o be cou ed by he uling eli e [in A ica]" [23].
The A ican peasan y has no posed signi ican poli ical h ea s and challenges o
pos -independence egimes and i s uling s a e class since o ganized peasan ebellion is a e
o does no exis in A ica [18]. Acco ding o Kanyinga [11], his is mainly ela ed o he
poli ical ma ginaliza ion o he A ican peasan class by he s a e a e independence in which
u al A ica is gi en li le a en ion by he s a e wi h i s loose link wi h i al s a e ins i u ions,
only aking pa in elec ions which unde no ci cums ance esol e and add ess i s poli ical,
economic and social challenges o A ican peasan s.
Rela i ely small, he A ican wo king class ( he u ban wage-ea ning o ce) is "an
unde de eloped indus ial p ole a ia " [16] ha eme ged wi h he ad en o Eu opean
colonialism and he es ablishmen o new u ban cen e s in he la e 1930s subjec o ha sh
opp ession and exploi a ion o di ec and indi ec ule o Eu opean colonizing powe s. The
A ican wo king class was mainly engaged in he ollowing economic ac i i ies:-"public wo k
p og ams, in he ex ac i e indus ies, on he ailways and ha bou s, as well as being
employed by he colonial adminis a ion and p i a e sec o in such posi ions as cle ks, d i e s
and messenge s" [18]. Acco ding o Coope [19], du ing he colonial pe iod in he 1940s and
1950s, he F ench and B i ish acknowledged he eme gence o he A ican wo king class, and
i had played decisi e poli ical ole in social and poli ical o ganiza ion o A icans pa ing he
way o poli ical s uggle agains he colonial ule a ge ing independence.
In con as o he wo king class o he Capi alis Wes , which has played a c ucial ole
in ad ancing democ a ic igh s h ough o ganized poli ical s uggle, he A ican wo king class
is small in size and a mino i y o he u ban popula ion ha slowly expanded since
independence. A e independence, he A ican s a e ac i ely and di ec ly ook pa in he
p oduc ion and app op ia ion o su plus. The A ican p ole a ia indulged in poli ical and class
210 D. Mezgebe
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
s uggles o a ain powe [16] wi h he e e -expanded poli ical consciousness. This pa ed
he way o he A ican p ole a ia o independen ly o ganize in compe ing o poli ical powe
in challenging he s a e's powe [18], which has been domina ed and con olled by he A ican
s a e class since independence.
The A ican wo king class and peasan s played he p incipal ole du ing he colonial
pe iod. They con ibu ed hugely in he an i-colonial and na ional libe a ion s uggles
(Thomas, 1984). Howe e , in pos -independence A ica, bo h classes in u ban a eas a e aken
as a legi ima e h ea o he exis ing poli ical s a us quo, and hey "a e being dispossessed
and opp essed e e y day" [11] by he uling class o he egimes. In pos -independence A ica,
he mos impo an social class conce ning s a e powe con ol in A ican poli ics is he
bou geoisie ( he p ope ied classes and s a e pe sonnel). The bou geoisie class is de eloped
wi hin he womb o colonial adminis a ion. Th ough ime, he colonial mas e s poli ically
g oomed i o inhe i s a e powe a independence, and s a e powe was shi ed om colonial
au ho i y o he local pe y bou geoisie du ing decoloniza ion. The p incipal jus i ica ion o
his includes he p ope ied s a us and class na u e o he bou geoisie associa ed wi h i s
educa ion, which a e i s basic de ining ea u es [16].
The bou geoisie in A ica has played an impo an poli ical, economic, and social ole
in o ming class and he adminis a ion o he pos -independence A ican s a e. Poli ically,
he ise, p og ession, and expansion in size o he local pe y bou geoisie and i s
ans o ma ion o he uling class is a signi ican achie emen o he pos -independence s a e
o A ica [18]. This has con ibu ed o he eme ging new poli ical s a us quo a e
independence whe e, acco ding o Kanyinga [11], s a e powe poli ically and economically is
con olled by a limi ed numbe o a luen people ( he uling eli e). Poli ical and ci il igh s
ha e been gua an eed only o membe s o his g oup in a limi ed ashion. The bou geoisie
class in A ica comp ises mul iple en i ies om a ious economic sec o s, including "small-
scale a me s, pe y ade s, a isans, shopkeepe s, [plus] he owne s o la ge capi al [local
and o eign]" [18], who a o ed and assumed o be he leade o he an i-colonial s uggle
wi h i s le el o ad anced poli ical consciousness and close ela ion wi h he colonial
adminis a ion. In due ime, he indigenous bou geoisie class has ans o med i sel
poli ically, economically, and socially, en enching i sel in powe poli ics ( he s a e class).
Hence, i has become highly in luen ial and dominan in A ican poli ics [3].
The A ican bou geoisie class expanded o e ime a e independence, hanks o he
economic esou ces and poli ical powe i inhe i ed om he colonial mas e s. I ec ui ed
membe s om he "uppe echelon o he pa y, ci il se ice, and pa as a als" [18]. The A ican
s a e class is composed o : - " he eigning poli ical au ho i y, he cen al bu eauc acy, and
egional unc iona ies, he op echelons o he mili a y, and membe o , whe e i exis s, he
dominan poli ical pa y" [3]. The A ican s a e class has mainly de eloped i sel wi h he
bene ac ion o he pos colonial s a e. Examining and analysing A ican poli ics h ough he
Ma xis heo e ical lens o s a e o ma ion is essen ial because his class en i ely depends on
he newly eme ged s a e's poli ical, economic, and social ins i u ions in ad ancing i s
inancial and o he adminis a i e and manage ial in e es s [18]. This close ela ionship o
he s a e class/ bou geoisie o he s a e and i s i al esou ces can be used as a poli ical,
economic and social mechanism o inclusion and exclusion o indi iduals, g oups, socie y and
o he s wi hin he s a e whe e he s a e is p ac ically used as an ins umen se ing he
in e es s o he dominan class (s a e class).
Pos -independence s a e o ma ion in A ica: a heo e ical e iew 211
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
5. O e iew o Pos -Independence A ican S a e
Since 1957, con inen al A ica has been composed o a i icially o med new s a es
wi h he weakes economy and ail ins i u ions, and global ecogni ion has eme ged, gaining
i s independence h ough a ious means o poli ical s uggle [19]. In unde s anding poli ics
in pos -independence A ica, he s a e is he mos indispensable poli ical, economic, and
social ac o because i is he e y in luen ial poli ical migh and appa a us o go e nance ha
canno be unde mined and igno ed [11]. Economically, pos -independence A ican s a e is
cha ac e ized by he ollowing s anda d de ining ea u es whe e exclusi e and ex ac i e
economic ins i u ions wi h he weakes s uc u es o s a ehood inhe i ed om he colonize s
ha e pe pe ua ed wi h he owne ship/ monopoly o he s a e and i s esou ces by he new
indigenous uling class making indi idual leade s and he s a e class ad an ageous
economically [24]. Acco ding o Mazu i [25], he mode n Eu opean s a e is he p oduc o a
social con ac be ween he ule s and he uled, es ablishing a i al ins i u ion o ensu ing
and sus aining public o de and s abili y by gua an eeing he du ies and esponsibili ies o
ci izens wi hin he s a e's poli ical, economic and social ju isdic ion [26]. Howe e , in
con as , pos -independence A ican leade ship/na ion-building (Webe ian) and Ma xis
heo ies a e he basis o s a e o ma ion. Hence, hese heo ies a e essen ial in his s udy
con ex in p o iding an in-dep h knowledge which is impo an o unde s and, heo ize and
poli icize common de ining poli ical, economic and social ea u es de i ed om he pos -
independence A ican s a e's colonial legacy.
6. Majo Findings o he S udy
The o e iew o he majo indings o his s udy emphasized heo e ically e iewing
pos -independence A ican s a e o ma ion h ough he sepa a e schola ly in es iga ion
conduc ed sepa a ely in he p e ious sec ion on each o he wo heo ies o s a e o ma ion,
which a e iden i ied by hei speci ic ea u es and elemen s. The cen al epis emological
a ionale o heo izing abou he pos -independence s a e o A ica is o make "a clea
speci ica ion o he basic concep s" [27], and one o hese basic concep s is he pos -
independence A ican s a e i sel ha is iden i ied and ma ked by: - he undamen al ac o s
which con ibu ed o i s o ma ion, and he dis inc i e poli ical, economic and social
ea u es, and cha ac e is ics ha de ine i . When heo e ically e iewing pos -independence
A ican s a e o ma ion h ough he Leade ship/ Na ion-Building (Webe ian) and Ma xis
heo ies, he key poli ical ac o s ha con ibu ed o i s o ma ion a e Eu opean colonialism,
he indi idual esponsibili y o leade s o an i-colonial s uggle, decoloniza ion and he h ee
poli ical classes o he mode n A ican poli ics which ac i ely pa icipa ed in he
independence s uggle include: he peasan y, he p ole a ia /A ican wo king class and he
bou geoisie class [18]. Hence, he nex sec ion o his s udy ocuses on heo e ically
e iewing pos -independence A ican s a e o ma ion h ough he Leade ship/ Na ion-
Building (Webe ian) and Ma xis heo ies consecu i ely.
In heo izing pos -independence A ican s a e o ma ion h ough he Leade ship/
Na ion-Building (Webe ian) heo y, he leade s o an i-colonial s uggle who assumed powe
immedia ely a e independence laid he basis o legalizing and ins i u ionalizing nepo ism,
co up ion, and pa on-clien elism ac oss A ica, which e en nowadays a e i s cance ous and
malign poli ical ea u es [3]. These ea u es a e employed o in ensi y he p ocess and
p ac ice o exclusion o la ge segmen s o socie y poli ically, economically, and socially. The
leade s o he an i-colonial s uggle who la e became heads o s a e and go e nmen a e
