The Last Revolution: Community and Nation in Africa

Abstract

The major revolutions in Africa over the past decade may have distorted our estimates of future develop ment. Considerable evidence shows that African leaders are currently most concerned with the consolidation of power and the construction of highly centralized governments. But, as development proceeds, the community takes on an increas ingly important role and the new government is challenged to reconstruct the political system so as to give a more important role to localities. Despite the efforts to depoliticize communi ties in their relation to the governments of Africa, local reforms must be made and the political system must encompass a more complex pattern of political relationships. To refuse means to risk serious dislocations between levels of government and may produce stiff resistance to changes demanded by develop ment programs.