The Bourgeoisie and the State

Abstract

Decolonization altered the patterns of participation and influence in public affairs. Power was effectively devolved to the bourgeoisie who commanded the skills and resources necessary to determine public policy at the regional and national levels. The scale of the resources required to take advantage of the new opportunities for political participation was well beyond the reach of the petty traders and contractors who had previously been able to exercise some influence with the customary authorities at the local level. Allocation of resources at the local level was now determined by the interests of the ruling party at the regional, and ultimately the Federal, level. Thus local influence depended on patronage relations with regional politicians, and the imposition of military rule deprived people of even these limited opportunities for patronage.