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Abstract

What kind of entity is the State in Africa? Is it, as some would have us believe, an entity that simply needs to get better at fulfilling its functions, becoming more democratic, or becoming less corrupt? Is it an entity that would be more credible and legitimate if only it would step away from ethnic politics and become more like its western cousins? In many meetings these days, one is often asked to discuss the problems of African governance in toto, as if there is a meaningful democratisation recipe to be learnt, some counter-insurgency dynamic to be uncovered, and as if in discovering it, all will be well. But as Africanists, experience tells us that context, time, and engagement matters, and whatever the 'problem' is that afflicts African states, it is as much about the society that created it, and the international interlocutors who attempt to reform it, as it is about the State itself. Given these points, trying to pin down what we mean by 'governance' is no mean feat. Sprinkled across policy papers and reports, the term 'governance' has become a 'catch all' to encompass the good, bad and downright ugly elements of government functioning. It certainly includes the political actors and process, but it may also encompass "democracy and representation; human rights; the rule of law; efficient and effective public management; transparency and accountability; development as an objective and a varying range of economic and political policies, programmes and institutions" (Ware 2018, 202). For international development agencies, governance might be more about what makes a country amenable to foreign capital and other forms of intervention. It also may be about the 'C' word: corruption.