State and Class in Africa: A Case for Extending Analyses of the Form and Functions of the National State to the Urban Local State

Abstract

Four alternative theoretical approaches to analysing the form of the national state are outlined, their use in studies of African countries noted, and their appropriateness assessed, to provide background for a consideration of the possible utility of the concept of a local state in analysing African urban situations. Instrumentalist views of the national state In Africa are now less widely used than structuralist approaches, and so structuralist approaches have been considered in more detail, A review is presented of the findings of recent studies with respect to the form of the state and the class structure and processes of class formation in developmentalist African states, with particular reference to urban areas. The functions of the state in general terms at national and local levels are discussed, by use of Sandbrook's categorisation of development strategies in Africa. In the absence of studies of urban local government in Africa within the theoretical framework provided by debates on the form and functions of the state, some work on the functions of the local state in the United Kingdom is reviewed, and an initial assessment made of the extent to which the local state in Africa fulfils the same functions and has a similar, albeit limited, degree of autonomy from the national state. It is concluded that there is a case for focusing enquiry on subnational levels of the state in Africa, including the urban local state, and that structuralist views of the form and functions of the national state may be extended to providing a theoretical analysis at the local level, providing that the continuously changing nature and functions of the state, the dynamism and ambiguity of evolving class structures, and the importance of nonclass interests and identities are recognised.

Rural local government finance in Zimbabwe: The case of Gokwe District Council

“…The fortunes of local government in African countries appear to be inextricably tied with the changing levels of financial autonomy (Mawhood, 1983;Rakodi, 1986;Mutizwa-Mangiza, 1986). For the majority of these countries, local financial resources and autonomy have declined after independence.…”

Do public representatives in local governments know about “disability rights” in Pakistan? An awareness assessment case from Southern Punjab

“…It is worth noting that the literature from the mid 1950s to the early 1980s on decentralization displays an enormous range and diversity of temporal, topical and geographical scopes (Conyers 1984). In contrast, the literature on political economics has suspected decentralization to be a demeaning exercise to produce cheap labor opportunities in order to strengthen and promote capitalism on the one hand, and to enhance political legitimacy and maintain a predominant social order on the other (Rakodi 1986), often disregarding the rights of individual groups and in particular alienating those who have little power and are perceived as ''physically not whole'', such as persons with disabilities (Thompson 2006). Some authors have tried to describe decentralization as incompatible with the idea of participatory development and uplifting the marginalized, reinforcing local elite capture and raising the potential for conflict by opening new competition for resources among local elites (Kirsten and Mustafa 1995, Litvack et al 1998, Prudhomme 1995.…”

Decentralization and district development planning in Zimbabwe

“…The above arguments in favour of decentralization have been characterized as 'manifest' justifications, in the sense that they are the ones used by policy makers themselves to justify the adoption of decentralization policies. In recent political economy-oriented literature (reviewed by Rakodi, 1986 andMutizwa-Mangiza, 1988), it has been suggested that there may be other 'latent' motives behind the adoption of decentralization policies. These motives revolve around the role of the developmentalist state, particularly the following:…”