Home > Politics essays > Theory of the post-colonial state

Essay: Theory of the post-colonial state

Essay details and download:

  • Subject area(s): Politics essays
  • Reading time: 11 minutes
  • Price: Free download
  • Published: 1 August 2017*
  • File format: Text
  • Words: 3,002 (approx)
  • Number of pages: 13 (approx)

Text preview of this essay:

This page of the essay has 3,002 words. Download the full version above.

Peaceful co-existence between all racial and religious groups is my sincere wish for mankind (Achebe and Irele, 2009)

This has been and will be one of Mankind’s greatest struggles. It is debatable whether the events of history had brought man closer or just caused them to grow more apart. One if these historical events include colonialism and the transition to independent states for ex-colonies. The importance of this theory is defining the line between the nationality of a country and the identity of its people with the inheritance of colonial influences. Finally, if there is a way forward within this binary position.
As there are multiple avenues to look at the Post-colonial state the main elements I shall look at shall include two different approaches to the theory of the post-colonial state, the Liberal approach and Marxist approach. I shall then look at the Industrial and economic development within the post-colonial state explaining the process of industrialisation in Kenya. The final argument shall highlight the effect of post-colonialism on the Leaders during the independence period. I will finally cover a case study on Kenya’s 2007 post elections and hope to be able to analyse and possibly answer two questions. First, Whether the western media articles and language as act as a contributory factor in portraying the colonial image of Africans. Second, to what extent the post-colonial perspective of the state could have influenced the violence.
What exactly is post-colonialism? Kenya as many other Sub-Saharan countries was under British colonisation until 1963 when Kenya gained independence. This is the temporal view of post-colonialism. However, the more widely and discussed outlook on post-colonialism is the influence that colonialism had on the institutions, political systems, the economy, and the state of past colonial countries after decolonisation. Multiple political scientists and historians in the past have had varying approaches to the concept of the post-colonial state. Below. I shall evaluate two main approaches that capture multiple ideas and theories. The Liberal and Marxist approach.
To begin with, the liberal approach focuses on modernisation of the state. After colonisation, underdeveloped countries had gone through digression in terms of growth compared to the West. There was the need for reconstruction of the political, social, economic and cultural systems. Above all, there was a need for national identity, norms, values and restoration of culture for stability and growth in the coming years. Another important process that took place involved the transformation of the market industries from agricultural to more industrial ways. The state, on the other hand, took the role of building institutions, like a bureaucratic system, political parties. This paved way for an election system and legislative bodies to ensure the laws and regulations put in place were implemented. The state, therefore, was and is an important factor for the building the nation. During this process, one of the difficulties was the eradication of colonial influence in the institutions and the transformation into an independent state. This became more difficult because the formation of a state in itself was a western creation.
The second approach, the Marxist brings light to a new perceptive, the introduction class domination. Hamza Alavi a Marxist sociologist believes that in western societies, the indigenous bourgeoisie in the West created the concept of the state. This, however, was not the case in post-colonial states. ‘The native state in post-colonial societies is not established by an ascendant native bourgeoisie, but rather by a foreign imperialist bourgeoisie.’ (Alavi 1973,148) After the colonial powers left, left behind was a beauracratic-military and an ideological state apparatus that had been deeply rooted in the political systems in order to overpower domestic classes and later subordinated the native bourgeoisie.
Around the nineteen fifties and the sixties certain countries like Tanzania, Egypt and Iraq developed state-capitalism, in which the state controlled all systems. Kenya, alternatively had a different system as suggested by Jules Regis Debray, known as ‘petty bourgeoisie’, “it does not possess an infrastructure of economic power before it wins political power, hence it transforms the state not only into an instrument of political domination but also into a source of economic power.”(Debray, 1967) Therefore special financing arrangements are formed, manipulating licences taking over the private sector. Over the next few paragraphs we shall expound on the two approaches and their see their relation to Kenya as a post-colonial state.
Development after decolonisation was the root of growth for Kenya which was implemented through industrialisation and economic development. They were critical processes in post-colonial economies. Industrialisation development equated to the success of achieving modernisation. However, Kenya similarly to other African countries in the past has failed to generate the level of industrial growth and development aspired. The two main reasons for this were the structural constraints involved, which included low levels of human capital, weak domestic entrepreneurial market, weak infrastructure and low income per capita among other reasons. Second, policies implemented, intervention of the state and administrative controls from elite has made it difficult for the necessary performance of the country.
During the late 1960’s one of Kenya’s greatest structural problem was unemployment brought as a result of colonialism. The industrial market proved unsustainable due to the limited amount of land. About 17% was available for public use. The government, therefore, chose to focus on Industrialisation in rural and urban areas in order to minimise structural constraints.
The inheritance of policy implementation from colonial times was an important factor that formed the development paradigm in the early years of post-colonialism. A significant period of the 1970’s was the economic crisis that led to a deficit in the Kenyan budget, furthermore an overall economic decline. Following these events was the intervention from the state in order to administrate and monitor the market, for instance through import licensing. The Minister of Finance in 1972 stated in a speech that although he was reluctant to impose the import restrictions because they would ‘distort the pattern of production … and lead to high domestic costs’ they were deemed essential since the need to ‘safeguard the foreign exchange reserves was … imperative’ (Hazlewood 1979,152). This is what led Kenya to shift from a liberal exchange policy to a controlled regime.
However, it would be a fallacy to give credit purely to the inheritance colonial practices like the implementation of licences and import restriction. Post-independence within the state was the driving factor of development. The approach and tactics of the country during their growth and handling the economic crisis. Kenya in the past and currently still is one of the fastest growing in industrialisation and growing economy.
What do critics have to say about the post colonial state? A critic of Post-colonialism and the state would be to reject the whole concept. It is not wildly contested. Gayatri Spivak an Indian scholar, in His book A Critique of post-colonial reason, writes that post-colonialism ‘is just totally bogus’ (Spivak, 1999). Multiple debates surround the legitimacy of post-colonialism, whether it holds a theory that is valid, the boundaries required and implications throughout politics.
Governing Kenya over the past few year has not come as an easy task. Kenya, a multi-tribal country consists of 42 ethnic tribes. and therefore diversity of ideologies, way of life, views and even actors within each tribe. Archie Majefe, an African scholar, writes in his book A Combative Ontology that the decolonisation of African countries did not bring about complete liberation with the exception of narrow political avenues. The West still with its dominating attributes continues to control certain activities within developing countries. Most importantly, a good example would be the political scene in Kenya. African states adopted various colonialist systems which entailed an authoritarian political culture. \”The colonial state in Africa was an authoritarian bureaucratic apparatus of control and not intended to be a school of democracy\”(Copson, 2001:12).\”
The stability and freedom of Kenya from the colonial powers was strongly fought by the Mau Mau, who were fighters against the regime of the colonial influence. This was Led by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, who went along to be Kenya’s First president. President Kenyatta successfully led Kenya into a stable state. It was, however, questionable how long this would last. President Kenyatta successfully led his term and passed on due to natural causes in August 1978. His successor was President Arap Moi who’s term was accompanied by the “successor crisis”. An important characteristic of the post-colonial times was that for Many African countries there was a race of power among the political, social and economic scene. The liberal and its ability to control the major view on post-colonialism involved the responsibility of the state to balance the political scene in order to gain control of the economic and social institutions. This follows through to the Marxist approach above and Debrays states regarding political domination.’The outcome of this [succecor crisis] struggle depends upon the strength of each factions institutions within the country.’ (Ahluwalia) President Moi later turned Kenya into a dictatorial state after a coup. The main problem that brought about this leadership was the lack of institutionalised transfer of power. This made it hard for democratisation. Technically speaking, the institutional systems were inherited but there was no guidance from the West on how Democratic systems worked. Today, Kenya is a democratic state, however, through the case study shown below, we shall see why it was difficult and still is difficult to maintain a democratic state.
The post-colonial state and its literature definitely do not go without criticism. There is a great focus on the post-colonial state, however, neglect of pre-colonial times. “As a man without memory and self-knowledge is a man adrift, so a society without memory and self-knowledge would be a society adrift”. ( Marwick 2001,32) A greater part of pre-colonial times in Africa was the Importance of the society and connection to one’s neighbour, a sense of unity and appreciation of diversity. However, after colonialism, many leaders showed neglect to this history. As Marxist’s approach suggested class domination and industrialisation and state intervention hindered the growth of national identity.
The following quote offers a different perspective on the concept of post-colonialism: Africa and the west ‘shares a history of colonial contact, with its inevitable material effects, its conflicts, its complicities and oppositions, its foliations and affiliations. They share these things regardless of the radical specificity and differences between local cultures themselves. (Ashcroft 1997:23-24). This is an important view that eliminates the binary opposition between The first and Third World Countries. It points out the importance of Looking at the similarities between the growth of nations, rather than what differentiates them. Professor Pal Ahluwalia points out that post-colonialism was not just a relation to ‘after independence’, it goes further to incorporate the beginning, from the slave trade to the scramble of Africa all through to decolonisation. The majority of post-colonial literature bring to light the failure of the state ‘post-colonial states’, however, a greater discourse is not just dismissing the history of colonisation before putting more weight to the years of digression and stripped freedom and the how far post-colonial states have come and therefore, the way forward.
What is the way forward? Liberation and authenticity of identity to the point that Africa is not just seen as a ‘Dark continent’ that has withstood all crisis and storm of history with exception Colonialism. Because of the deeply political gist of the colonial /postcolonial discourse, we have come to think of our identities as natural rather than imagined and politically driven. (Masolo 1997:285) Kenyatta, Kenya’s first president in his book Facing Mount Kenya states that the African Past [Kikuyu past, Kenyan tribe] was governed by order, self-sufficiency and virtues and norms in the past. Furthermore, they lived in peace and harmony. He explains a sense of cohesion and equilibrium in the society. This ‘golden past’ as Kenyatta labels, was greatly disrupted by the events of colonialism. (Kenyatta 1999) With relation to Masolo, this sense of identity is the strength of the post-colonials states, it should continue to be practiced in peoples everyday lives.
CASE STUDY
A significant moment in Kenyan history was during the 2007 election and the effects of the elections. After the election results were read out, Kenya never expected what terror would lie ahead. The candidates were, Mwai Kibaki of National rainbow coalition(NARC) party and his opposition Raila Odinga of the Orange democratic party(ODM). Rumours of the legitimacy of the polls brought out speculations of rigging. It is to date not clear, but to place a bet in the honesty of the voting system would not be a confident position either. The media, one of the greatest influences had a great hand throughout the elections. I shall give an analysis of reports given during the elections, their approach and its relation to Kenya as a state. The media bodies analysed are ‘The economist’, ‘Times Magazine’ and African Confidential. These are magazines widely read by the public and not locally based allowing for a worldly view.
Tribe in Kenya is something that dates back to before colonialism. The tribe is an important factor of identity, as would one’s ethnicity or their nationality. The clashes involved tribal conflict greatly among the Kikuyu who supported Kibaki’s win and the Luo who were not content with the loss of Raila. An article in Time Magazine summarises the election events writing, “hacked to death several people from rival tribes…” “Clashes between tribes…” “The wave of tribal killings…” “[T]he violence is about tribal score-settling…” (Time Magazine, 2008). An interesting discourse is being shaped giving the reader an impression that tribe is generally associated with violence and conflict. It also creates an assumption all tribes were Fighting among each other. The Economist, on the other hand, writes about ‘politically motivated killings’( Economist,2008). This gives a more general and relatable image to the readers, this, in turn, retreats from a post-colonial discourse. Tribe, one of the things not inherited from colonialism and is such an important element. The democratic system inherited does not put enough focus on the importance of tribe and tribal differences in the state. However, the tribe may have been one of the elements that led to the violence however it is not because the tribe is a common cause of conflict but due to the Actors and leaders representing them.
Africa is a continent with its undeniable similarities but there is also a diversity of nationalities, religious groups and ethnicities. It is very easy to see the links of one country to other countries in Africa due to the colonial History that they share. The reality is, as much as economic development and politics and power is a general quest, simplifying it into one bubble leaves room for a very little understanding of events like that of the post-election. The Economist often emphasised that the rigging of votes was a natural occurrence over the years due to the commitment of leaders to a Democracy. The African Confidential writes of how Kenya is a regional hub, which is true. The stability of Kenya did have influential factors in neighbouring countries. Therefore, a peaceful election was necessary for Kenya and other countries. For a reader on the other side of the World, who has not experienced such events first hand they are exposed only to media: ‘The nation(Africa) embodies the best and worst of the continent – its vitality and economic potential but also its poverty, corruption and tribalism.’ complimented by the label: ‘ The Demons that still haunt Africa’ (Times Magazine, 2008). The binary Position this Metaphor holds is powerful. A continent that holds the values and Norms of Western development but inhibits a form of savagery and flaws of culture.
It is without a doubt that possible rigging of elections was a contributory failure of the state, and a great blame on political leaders who were hungry for power. However, the power of the media cannot be taken for granted. How the use of words could noticeably or subconsciously create an exaggerated or even false perspective of a situation. It carries a great responsibility in painting post-colonialism and its failures within the state. The problem is looking at the whole continent in comparison to the west, placing it as an inferior. The most important thing is to take this information with a critical mind not to be blinded by a one-sided view but to see the strengths and weaknesses from real ground facts. The post-election violence showed the failure of the state in 2007-2008, however, Kenya, still as a democratic state has grown in the years following.
CONCLUSION
Kenya like most African countries shifted from an agricultural to industrialisation after decolonisation.It included structural constraints and poor policy implementation. Over the years there has been growth for the industrial industry and increased opportunities for Kenyans, however, policy implementation remains an issue within multiple large and beneficial institutions. However, there is progress with the liberalisation of trade as a factor of economic development. On the other hand, Kenya’s transformed from the Moi Regime( Autocratic) to a democratic regime. This allowed for Multiple parties and elections to take place. The democratic system, a system inherited by the west over the years was not an easy shift due to the multiple cultural differences and multiple tribes within the country. This was seen during the post-election violence that took place in 2007-2008 election in Kenya. The contribution of the western media Pointe out the atrocities of the multiple tribes within Kenya, However, the greater issue was the leaders and manipulation of their power.
Kenya, according to literature a post-colonial state including characteristics from the Marxist and liberal approach. Alternatively, the growth over the years has been tremendous and not all credit should be given to the inheritance of colonial practice, in the same light, not all weaknesses and tragedy should be pinned on colonialism. There should be a vigorous focus on striving tactics to uplift themselves. A great starting point would from our Actors and Leaders. China Achebe writes “A functioning, robust democracy requires a healthy educated, participatory followership, and an educated, morally grounded leadership.”

...(download the rest of the essay above)

About this essay:

If you use part of this page in your own work, you need to provide a citation, as follows:

Essay Sauce, Theory of the post-colonial state. Available from:<https://www.essaysauce.com/politics-essays/theory-post-colonial-state/> [Accessed 28-03-24].

These Politics essays have been submitted to us by students in order to help you with your studies.

* This essay may have been previously published on Essay.uk.com at an earlier date.