Conflict, mediation, and the African State: how foreign support and democracy lead to strong political order

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Periodical article

Title:	Conflict, mediation, and the African State: how foreign support and democracy lead to strong political order
Author:	Glawion, Tim
Year:	2013
Periodical:	African security (ISSN 1939-2206)
Volume:	6
Issue:	1
Pages:	38-66
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Africa
Subjects:	State collapse State formation conflict war democracy
External link:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19392206.2013.759476
Abstract:	Anarchy and war reigning throughout Africa threaten to bring about a 'failed' continent. This article, on the contrary, argues that to understand the evolution of African state systems, political order should be defined as a conflict mediation institution and process. Through a quantitative analysis, this paper challenges Charles Tilly's notion that interstate war helps build states and challenges the idea that foreign support retards state building. Democracy, and a complex three-dimensional relationship between intrastate war, political order, and foreign support, on the other hand, can have a positive impact on state strength. Notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]