Abstract
Non-state actors have been variously recognized as important engines of growth and development across the world. This is because they have objective and critical existence that make it possible for them to engage/disengage with the state to objectively immobilize and/or drive the development of nations and continents. Thus, this chapter examines issues bothering on non-state actors and their effects on development of Africa. Here are two types of non-state actor—armed and unarmed—and both are examined in this chapter relative to their contributions to development on the continent. Their contributions are examined across African nations in terms of positive contributions and negative ones. Issues of their abuses that have negated their contributions are also investigated. Indicative questions of this chapter are: What is/who are non-state actors? What are their typologies and what development philosophies guide their existence and operations? What is their political economy? To what extent have they/have they not contributed to development of countries in Africa? What are their challenges? What are their successes? Have there been abuses? Are they very important to Africa’s development? How can they better drive development in Africa? And so on.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
E-OII is my original concept created to accommodate what the NCI described as the super-empowered individuals. I consider the concept of E-OIIs more appropriate because the nucleus of strength of such larger than life individuals in the NSA marketplace is the resource of influence which they deploy as an object of negotiation. This influence thus becomes very variable and dynamic to the extent that it translates to empowerment but the main essence, structure and element of the empowerment is the extraordinary influence that may have come from previous socioeconomic, political, religious, diplomatic and other powers.
- 2.
For example, according to data from the United States Center for Global Development, countries like Mozambique and Angola have more doctors abroad than are resident in the countries. The case is not entirely different in Nigeria and Zimbabwe, although South Africa and North Africa are to some extent exceptions.
References
Akanle, O. (2013). The development exceptionality of Nigeria: The context of political and social currents. Africa Today, 59(3), 31–48.
Akanle, O., & Omobowale, A. O. (2015). Trans-border banditry and integration in the ECOWAS region. In A. O. Olutayo & I. A. Adeniran (Eds.), Regional economic communities: Exploring the process of socio-economic integration in Africa (pp. 101–110). Dakar: CODESRIA.
Akanle, O., & Taiwo, P. A. (2013). Globalization and inequality. In R. Aborisade, A. O. Omobowale, & O. Akanle (Eds.), Essentials of sociology (pp. 283–294). Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.
Briscoe, I. 2013. Non-conventional armed violence and non-state actors as challenges for mediation and humanitarian action. Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre Report. Oslo: Noref.
Bruderlein, C. (2000). The role of non-state actors in building human security: The case of armed groups in intra-state wars. Geneva: Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.
Easterly, W. (2007). The white man’s burden: Why the West’s efforts to aid the rest have done so much ill and so little good. Camberwell: Penguin Books.
Ewumbue-Monono, C. (2006). Respect for international humanitarian law by armed non-state actors in Africa. Review: Reports and Documents, 83(864), 905–924.
Hofmann, C., & Schneckener, U. (2011). NGOs and nonstate armed actors: Improving compliance with international norms. United States Institute of Peace Special Report, 284, 1–13.
Malka, H. (2015). The challenge of non-state actors. InGlobal Forecast, Centre for International Studies (pp. 1–2).
Maseng, J. O. (2014). State and non-state actors in South African public policy. InPolicy Brief. Pretoria: Africa Institute of South Africa.
Steer, L., Gilliard, J., Gustafsson-Wright, E., & Latham, M. (2015). Non-state actors in education in developing countries: A framing paper for discussion. Paper prepared as background to the Annual Research Symposium of the Centre for Universal Education held 5–6 March. Washington, DC: Centre for Universal Education at Brookings.
Valensi, C. (2015). Non-state actors: A theoretical limitation in a changing Middle East. Military and Strategic Affairs, 7(1), 59–78.
Weiss, T. G., Seyle, D.C., & Coolidge, K. (2013). The rise of non-state actors in global governance: Opportunities and limitations (Discussion Paper). One Earth Foundation, pp. 1–13.
World Bank. (2011). Healthy partnerships: How governments can engage the private sector to improve health in Africa. http://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/industry_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/industries/health+and+education/news/features_health_healthypartnerships. Accessed 10 Aug 2016.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2008). Capacity building to constructively engage the private sector in providing essential health care services. http://apps.who.int/gb/archive/pdf_files/EB124/B124_18-en.pdf. Accessed 10 Aug 2016.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Akanle, O. (2018). Non-state Actors as the Strategic Realm in Africa’s Development. In: Akanle, O., Adésìnà, J. (eds) The Development of Africa . Social Indicators Research Series, vol 71. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66242-8_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66242-8_16
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-66241-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-66242-8
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)