Political science- short answers- Africa - Essay Example

Due: Political Science “Are there peaceful routes to consolidation?” What’s his answer? What sort ofconcrete things might be done? According to Herbst, the main question that we ask our selves is if the African nations can take transformation policies for consolidating nations without necessarily following the path of the European countries. Peaceful consolidation has to do with revising fiscal policies and government revenue. Herbst says that it is quite hard to have major reforms and increase the states’ capacity without having to rely on wars as a means to ratchet up the extractive ability of a state.

Instituting key reforms when the state is running normally is difficult. Concrete things that can be undertaken include use of fiscal systems and tax reforms. Structural adjustments directed towards Africa by the IMF, bilateral donors and the World Bank are some of the policies to reach consolidation (Herbst 51).“The central axis of world politics is likely to be… the West versus the rest.” What is Huntington’s argument here? According to Samuel P. Huntington, it is religious and cultural identities that will primarily breed tension and conflict in the world of post- Cold War.

Huntington concluded this after surveying various theories relating the mode of global politics. He argued that the idea of different civilizations is key to analyzing the possibility of conflict (Herbst 45). Civilizations differ from each other in terms of language, culture, history, religion and tradition. This has potential for conflict.What is the “Confucian-Islamic connection”? Huntington gave a memorable slogan regarding Islamic religion which has agitated friction in the western world.

It is the “Islam has bloody borders” slogan that brings fear in his arguments. Huntington concludes that all Asian countries and other Islamic nation are collectively peace haters. The western will come together and consolidate their power to ensure their interests remain. The Islamic nations will too consolidate and challenge the power and values of the West. The western world has had impact great impact in the world civilizations. To remain relevant, they have to consolidate their military power and fight for their interests and values (Herbst 67).

What are the implications for the West, according to SPH? According to Huntington, the West plays a critical role in influencing the political and religious institutions in Africa. The West therefore determines the stability and of the social movements activities of these states. Work citedJeffrey, Herbst. War and State of Africa. International Security, vol.14 No.4. The MIT Press, 1990, pp.117-139.