Political power & social class in the neo‐colonial African state

Abstract

Using Poulantzas' mode of analysis Charney provides a framework for understanding and periodising the state, and the phenomenon of ‘neocolonialism’ — often referred to, seldom defined. It shows that the neo‐colonial state has a different basis for ‘hegemony‘—clientelism—than in the centre states, and that it is particularist not ‘national’. It also explores the circumstances under which there could be a break up of the dominant class basis of and of factional popular support for the neo‐colonial state.