This edited volume examines the cases of four African military leaders who had enormous impact on the continent and beyond. These military officers, and later heads of state -- Jerry Rawlings of Ghana; Moammar Gaddafi of Libya; Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso; and Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt – were provocative and polarizing figures, beloved domestically but mostly viewed with suspicion and hostility by foreign governments. This volume studies these leaders as a group, engaging in a critical but systematic examination of their personalities, leadership styles, official performance, legacies, and their continuing impact on the future and political destiny of the continent. Providing a survey of controversial but important African political figures, this volume will be of use to scholars and students in the social sciences, especially those interested in African history, African studies, military science, Black studies, political science, leadership studies, and the politics of developing nations.
Author(s): Sabella Ogbobode Abidde, Felix Kumah-Abiwu
Series: Contributions to Political Science
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 355
City: Cham
Preface
Introduction
Acknowledgment
Contents
About the Editors
Abbreviations
Part I: Military Engagement and Leadership in Africa
Chapter 1: The Colonial Origins of African Military and Its Implications for African Politics
Introduction
Literature Review
Theoretical Framework
The Origin and Evolution of the African Military
Impact of Colonial Origin of African Military on Postindependence Politics
Conclusion
References
Chapter 2: Military Coup D’états in Africa: A Survey
Introduction
Overview of Military Coups in Africa
The Consequences of Military Coups in Africa
The Exceptionalism of Rawlings, Gaddafi, Sankara, and Nasser
Conclusion
References
Chapter 3: Political Economy of Colonial and Postcolonial African Military
Introduction
The Analytical Framework
Military in the Colonial Africa
Military Model in the Postcolonial Africa
Independent Africa and Military Power Elite
Military and Democracy Debate in Africa
Concluding Remarks
References
Chapter 4: Postcolonialism and Elite Contestation for Political Power in Africa
Introduction
Postcolonial Nationalist Elite Ideology
Military Engagement in Politics and Leadership
Elite Contestation for Power and Governance
Development Ethos of Africa Elite
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Leadership, Constitutional Changes, and Functions of Governments in East Africa
Introduction
A Review of the Politics of Constitutional Change in East Africa: Contemporary and Past Patterns
The Kenyan Case
The Ugandan Case
Tanzanian Case
Constitutionalism and Government Functions: Reviewing the Trends and Outcomes in East Africa
Conclusion
References
Part II: The Revolutionary Comrades in Ghana and Burkina Faso
Chapter 6: Thomas Sankara and Jerry Rawlings: Intellectuals, Populists, Revolutionaries, and Pan-Africanists
Introduction
Definition and Understanding of Terms
Intellectuals
Populists
Revolutionaries
Pan-Africanism
Ideas, Ideologies, and African Leaders
Leaders and the Pan-African Ideals
Duo of African Military Leadership
Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara
Jerry John Rawlings
Most Controversial of Them All
Conclusion
References
Chapter 7: Third Era of Jerry Rawlings as a Democratic President (1993–2001): Ideology and Leadership Style
Introduction
Defining and Conceptualizing Leadership
Social, Political, and Economic Development; 1966–1983
Rawlings: Context and Leadership Emergence
Transition to Democracy and 1992 Elections
Rawlings and Democracy in Ghana from the 1996 Elections to the 2000 Elections
Rawlings and Decentralization in Ghana
Rawlings: Footprints of a Transformational Leader
Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: Statesmen: Burkina Faso and the Dream Deferred: Ideology and Leadership Style
Introduction
Thomas Sankara: A Brief Biography
Thomas Sankara: Ideology and Leadership Style
In the Eyes of France
Burkina Faso: Thirty-Four Years Later
References
Chapter 9: Thomas Sankara: An Intellectual Statesman in Power, Culture, and Education in Burkina Faso (1983–1987): A Review After 30 Years
Introduction
The Life and Afterlife of Thomas Sankara’s: Intellectual Activism and Revolutionary Statesmanship
The Burkina Faso Revolution 1983–1987: With a Leftist Political Orientation
Sankara as an Educational and Cultural Thinker and Reformer
Education and Ideological Training
Sankara’s Cultural Policies and Praxis
Conclusion
References
Chapter 10: Thomas Sankara’s Ideology and Political Leadership
Introduction
Thomas Sankara: The Early Years
Sankara’s Political Evolution
Sankara’s Ideology and Political Leadership
Reflecting on Sankara’s Political Ideas in Contemporary Africa
Conclusion
References
Chapter 11: Thomas Sankara: Mixed Legacies of a Charismatic Statesman
Introduction
Thomas Sankara in Time and Space
Early Life
Military Career
Sankara’s Ascension to the Presidency
Thomas Sankara and the “France-Africa” Relations
Thomas Sankara’s Political Thought
An Innovative Development Model
Social Policies
Foreign Policy Agenda
The Stalwart Advocate of Women’s Liberation
Sankara’s Leadership Legacy
The Limits of Sankara’s Burkindlum Dream
Conclusion
References
Part III: The Colonel and the Iconoclast in the Desert
Chapter 12: Muammar Gaddafi: An Assessment
Introduction
The Historical and Geopolitical Background
Turkish, French, and Italian Expansionism and Power Struggles
The Qadhadifa Clan
The Sanusi (Senussi) Factor
The Military Coup of 1969: The Foundation Era
US Foreign Policy and Libya
Libya and Africa
Intellectual Foundations
The Jihadist Factor
Gaddafi’s Legacy
Conclusion
References
Chapter 13: NATO, EU, and Libya: A Decade of Turmoil
Introduction
EU-Libyan Relationship
NATO-Libyan Relations
US-Libyan Relations
Strategic Development
Bring in the Turmoil
Conclusion: Desperate Outlook
References
Chapter 14: Psychobiographical Analysis in International Politics: A Focus on Moammar Ghaddafi of Libya
Introduction
Methodological Considerations
Conceptual Discourse
Theoretical Background: Erikson Psychosocial Development
Ghaddafi’s Phenomenon
The Early Years of Ghaddafi
Military Training
The Libyan Revolution of 1969
Ghaddafi’s Policies, Objectives, and Principles
Ghaddafi’s Death
An Evaluation of Psychobiography in Understanding Ghaddafi’s Life, Personality, and Policies
Conclusion
References
Chapter 15: Gaddafi, Tito, and Libyan Non-aligned Policy
Introduction
Diplomatic Relations Between Libya and Yugoslavia
Libya at the Non-Aligned Summits in Lusaka 1970 and Algiers 1973
From Colombo 1976 to Havana 1979
Conclusion
References
Part IV: A Soldier from the Cradle of Civilization
Chapter 16: Gamal Abdel Nasser: A Hero in Africa and the Arab World
Introduction
Leadership Personality and Symbolism
Nasser: Nationalist Revolutionary and Internationalist Diplomat
Nationalist Revolutionary
Internationalist Diplomat
Pan-Arabism
Pan-Africanism
Afro-Arabism
Diplomacy, Intellectualism, and Statesmanship: of a Personality and Symbolism
Conclusion
References
Chapter 17: Hero in Arab Maghreb and Mashreq
Introduction
Philosophy of Revolution
Soldier as Intellectual
Egyptian Command and Staff College
Tentative Allies
“Voice of the Arabs”
Assassination Attempt
“Lavon Affair”
Weapons from “Czechoslovakia”
Operation OMEGA
Suez Nationalization and the Athos
Mukhabarat as a Mark of Heroism
Un Seul Heros
Hero Among Lebanese
“Heroism from Disaster”
Born of Disaster
Conclusion
References
Chapter 18: The Sons of the Revolution: Umm Kulthum, Abdel Halim Hafez, and the Nasserist Regime Between Artistic Agency, Propaganda, and Nationalism
Gamal Abd al-Nasser: The Ascendancy and the Consolidation of al-Rais
Nasser and the Media
Umm Kulthum: The Voice of the Arabs, the Voice of the Regime
Nasser, the Six-Day War and Umm Kulthum’s Support
Nasser and Abdel Halim Hafez: The Nightingale of the Revolution
Conclusion
References
Chapter 19: Egypt and the Arab World: Five Decades After Nasser
Introduction: Egypt and the Arab World, the Evolution
Drifting Away from the Arab World: The Sadat’s Years
Back to the Arab Fold: The Static Mubarak Era
Egypt in the Aftermath of the Arab Spring: The Transitional Period and Morsi
Egypt and the Axis of the Counterrevolution: The Era of Sisi
Conclusion and Findings
References
Index
