Globilization, governance and armed conflict in Africa

Abstract

Governance and conflict are two phenomena, which have been reflective and reminiscent of human societies from time immemorial. The art of governance evolve as certain individuals or groups emerge as leaders and acquire powers, which subject others under their authority. As for conflict, this paper posits that it is borne out of struggle for survival by varying individuals or groups with differing interests. Nevertheless, globalization though a phenomenon of antiquity as well, exacts great influence on the intercourse of governance and conflict. Africa experienced a re-organization of governance premised on the ‘collective good\' to that of the ‘Western\', based on the ‘individual\' as it came under European domination. From First World War to Second World War, Africa, with Asia, had her resources harnessed for sustenance of European war machine. At the end of the Second World War, there began another war generally referred to in literature as the ‘Cold War\'. It was a war for supremacy between two economic powers (i.e. capitalism and socialism). Though this war did not turn into a full-scale war among the super-powers, it was remotely fought in Africa; especially, in places such as Angola and Congo. In some other places it came through coups and counter-coups. More than a decade after the end of the cold war, with calls for democracy and good governance, many African countries remain militarized and conflict plagued as individuals/groups fight for the control of power and survival. It is important to note that several solutions have been preferred without success. This paper hence calls for resort to traditional African culture with emphasis on the collective good to ensure preventive conflict management rather than conflict management after enormous destruction of life and property.

African Journal for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Vol. 8(1) 2005: 58-72