Transformations of Africa›s Authoritarian State General features and the Future Prospects

Abstract:
 The goal of this study is to examine the transformations of the African authoritarian state in the post-independence experience using a qualitative method and a literature review. It claims that Africa has seen three waves of authoritarian state models: the first wave, which was associated with the Cold War and embodied the Big Man Syndrome and personal rule. In turn, the second wave has seen the growth of new competitive authoritarianism and hybrid African regimes that have a variety of names in the post-Cold War globe. The present third wave of African authoritarianism has been related to changes in the international system and the advent of major international powers such as China and Russia that challenge American hegemony. There has been a significant decline in democracy and a return to authoritarianism. The study concluded that the subject of authoritarian states, and thus democracy, in Africa requires a different perspective than that of traditional readings. It would be irrational not to question structural, social, or economic restraints. These limits, however, dictate different breeds of Authoritarian regimes on African autocrats.