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      Sierra‐Leone: contradictory class functionality of the ‘soft’ state

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            Abstract

            While the ‘soft’ state may be metaphorically descriptive of the malleability, hegemonic impotence and functional incapacitation of the post‐colonial state in Africa, the class functionality of state softness remains ambivalent and problematic. Although a soft, institutionally fragile state with multiple informal points of entry is generally conducive to processes of class formation at the top, it is doubtful whether such an impaired apparatus of political domination can be reproductive of long term ruling class interests. And because the class whose formation is made possible by institutional fragility lacks a hegemonic ideology and is largely parasitic and unproductive in its modes of consumption and accumulation, it is inherently incapable of leading a genuine capitalist, populist or socialist transformation of African society. This incongruent, stultifying duality in the class functionality of the soft state is at the centre of the problem posed by the contemporary political and economic retardation of African societies.

            Content

            Author and article information

            Journal
            crea20
            CREA
            Review of African Political Economy
            Review of African Political Economy
            0305-6244
            1740-1720
            November 1992
            : 19
            : 55
            : 30-43
            Affiliations
            a Department of Political Science , University of Richmond , Virginia
            Article
            8703965 Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 19, No. 55, November 1992, pp. 30-43
            10.1080/03056249208703965
            69bba74c-c594-40ee-8861-c0114dcd7a60

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            History
            Page count
            Figures: 0, Tables: 0, References: 15, Pages: 14
            Categories
            Original Articles

            Sociology,Economic development,Political science,Labor & Demographic economics,Political economics,Africa

            Bibliographic Note

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