E-tivity 1.2. Class discussion on the role of ideology in African politics

One way in which the African civil society has suffered the period after colonization is that, it had to ‘’endure an uneasy relationship between state and civil society’’. Whereby, they needed each other but no one was ready to really engage to play their parts. For instance, state on its side focus on dominating civil societies and was thus ineffective in its ruling power towards their hegemonic ambitions. Civil societies tried as much as possible to distance itself from state exploitation, but didn’t have in mind to completely get rid of predatory regime. This was as a result of the fact that; “the continent quite rightly, may not have wanted simply to mimic the systems of government found in Europe and North America. On the other hand early post-colonial period, African civil societies were rising in power and influence. They even became more influent that the state. It was recorded that “Ethnic ties, for example, were perhaps the strongest social bonds to be found on the continent” (Thomson, 2004).

The African civil society suffered in the post colonial period as a result of state sponsored ideologies in a very bigger extent than people can imagine. this is because since the period after colonization up to day African civil societies has never been able to establish an effective and stable political and administrative system which functions perfectly, as a result of western influence leading to political instabilities, ideological conflicts, civil wars as well as social misunderstandings, therefore affecting the political, economic and social lives of African civil societies.