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1. Statist Theory
The main emphasis is on; patterns of institutionalization, leadership styles and patron – client relations. The thesis in this frame is that African leaders are responsible for poverty, food crisis debt crisis and bad governance on the continent. (Ibid et al 1992: 21).
This theory was popularized by scholars such as Goran Hyden(1970) who argued that the
African state is soft though its infrastructure specifically the army and civil service appear
magnificent. This theory dominated political science research in the 1970s but has been re-
introduced in the 1990s and the first decade of the 21st century. Other scholars such as
Tornquist (1998) and Randall (2005) have discussed the African state as a weak state and a
failed state.
Scholars who have used this theory to study African politics have placed
political factors at the center of their analysis. They have used this theory to study
state apparatus, its expansion, use and abuse of power. For them the state is an actor
with interests, capacities, achievements and weaknesses
The statist theory has been criticized on the basis that:
- Definition and conceptualization of the state is elusive
- There is inadequacy in the study of state- society relations.
- Relationship between state and class is not clear.
2. Political Interaction Framework.
This is an approach that aims at identifying various factors that determine political development in Africa. It takes cognizance of the fact that whereas political factors have contributed to the type of socio-economic development in Africa, the same political factors are pre-determined by historical, demographic, cultural, ideological and international processes. This school of thought defines politics as a set of transactions by different players in a socio-economic arena.
Hence politics keeps on changing its manifestation as a result of the actors. It is the
intervention between players that propel the political process. This theory was well articulated by Bratton and Van de Walle (1997). This theory has been criticized for adopting a macro approach in analyzing local and national factors that influence types of states in Africa. This macro approach overshadows other instrumental factors such as class, ethnicity and political pluralism whose contribution to shaping governance in Africa is enormous.
3. Structural Functionalism.
This theory was first put forward by a renowned sociologist by the name Talcot Parsons in the
mid 20 th century. He argued that increased complexity of social structures was linked to
improved performance of necessary social system functions. Randall2006) used the ideas of
Talcot and identified four attributes that constitute major elements in modern governments.
These attributes are: extractive, regulative distributive, symbolic and responsive. These
attributes are expected to grow as structures become more specialized and political styles
become modernized.
Political scientists have borrowed theories from the disciplines of psychology and sociology in
order to analyze certain political issues. Structural functionalism is an offshoot from general
systems theories, and it has been lifted from sociology to shed light on political phenomenon.
Structural functionalism considers institutions like political parties as a structure within a
political system that perform functions ranging from passing over the needs of the electorate to the government on one hand and educating the electorate on government policies and
legislation. In the absence of political parties other political structures such as the civil service and pressure groups like trade unions and civil society organizations do play similar functions.
These political structures facilitate the maintenance of the existing political system. Critics of structural functionalism point out that this theory promotes status quo hence it is only effective in instance where one conducts a comparative analysis of political structures in two or more political systems. Structural analysis considers that prospects for political change are found in the building blocks of social systems. (Allan R. Ball 1993:13)
4. Communication Theory.
Political scientists have borrowed from the recent technological advancement in electronic
communication. Karl Deutsch is one of the pioneers in popularizing communication theory.
This theory postulates that a government ought to be seen in terms of steering and that this
steering is dependent on organized communication. Communication system in a government
can be compared to nerves in a human body which transmit information from the centre i.e.
nervous system to the rest of the body. The body metabolism breaks down if one interferes with
this system of communication. African governments could be seen as centre of communication
to the people and it is the level and quality of information that results to good governance (Karl Deutsch 1990).
This theory is limited in the sense that it concerns itself with internal dynamics, specifically communication which has been a barrier to good governance in Africa. It does not highlight other factors such as separation of power and clear definition of roles and functions among the organs of government which significantly result to bad systems of government in Africa.
Titany answered the question on October 28, 2021 at 08:27