Federalism and Decentralization in Africa. Globalization and Fragmentation in Territorial Arrangements

This book examines the projects of administrative and territorial reconstruction in Africa from independence till the present time. The rise of separatist sentiments is among the most important problems, with which African continent faced in the twenty-first century. Currently separatist movements with varying degrees of intensity operate at least in 24 African countries. Around 25 movements and groups are looking for independence and the same number for the greater autonomy. The weak cohesion of African societies, predetermined by their ethnic, linguistic and religious heterogeneity, makes Africa a priori predisposed to fragmentation and decentralization. These processes and trends actualize the study of the mechanisms, forms and models of decentralization practiced today in Africa. The subject of analysis can be both federalist and unitary experiences of decentralization. The generalizations made in the course of such an analysis can significantly enrich the current vision of the development of the African continent and its future prospects.