Lawrence Abraham

State Culture and Ethnicity in West Africa: Politics and Conflict in West Africa Lawrence Abraham

In West Africa, the endurance of the state culture as a comprehensive political culture depends largely on the ethnic entrepreneurs who mediate realtions between state and society. However, in West Africa, the ethnic entrepreneurs are self-serving. The character and type of leadership in West Africa are distinguishable and identifiable by their alignments in the international arena. Sani Abacha of Nigeria had a close relationship with Louis Farakhan. Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Nigerian leader had a close relationship with Andrew Young and Ted Turner. State culture has both a domestic and international significance. This trend is noticeable throughout West Africa. The same was evident in politics of Liberia under Samuel Doe and his cohorts. In Liberia as elsewhere in West Africa, the interaction between the international environment and nationalism (domestic) forces the creation of a unique political culture. Nationalism and conflicts in West Africa are uniquely affected by International Politics.