Seminar on African Government: The Political Economy of the Neo-Patrimonial State

Sub-Saharan Africa has been described as being in a state of permanent crisis, a place where disorder and chaos reign and where states are weak. How to political regimes form and stay in power in such an environment? What accounts for their survival in the face of tremendous political and economic challenges? This seminar examines the political economy of regime survival in neo-patrimonial states. Case studies include Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. 3 hrs. sem. (Comparative Politics)/