International Journal of Political Science and Development
 

International Journal of Political Science and Development

Vol. 2(10), pp. 258 –265, November, 2014.  

DOI: 10.14662/IJPSD2014.052

ISSN: 2360-784X

Research Paper

has experienced three generations of constitutions since independence. These constitutions were mainly copied from former colonial powers. They were also detached from African cultures, values and traditional political institutions. In addition, ordinary citizens were not widely participated in the making processes. As a result, the constitutions lacked popular support and legitimacy; and became a centre of political contradictions and causes for intra-state conflicts by dividing and polarizing the society apart than consolidating peace and stability. This paper presents the roles of post-independence constitutions in generating and promoting intra-state conflicts in Africa from four border perspectives: 1) by looking at the kind of state structure and systems of government they introduced; 2) by looking at its nature and constitutional making processes; 3) by looking at how they distributed power and wealth among ethnic groups; and 4) by looking at the kind of state-society relationships they established. Therefore, it concludes that the imported post-independence constitutions should be amended or changed in a way reflecting the cultures, values and traditional political institutions of the African people to establish perpetual peace, security and social harmony in the continent. Finally, this paper relies on qualitative method of data analyses and the data are gathered from secondary sources.

Key Words: Constitution, constitutional design, generations of constitutions, conflict, Intra-state conflict



 

Cite This Article As: Memar AD (2014). Post-Independence Constitutions in Africa: reflection on their roles in generating and promoting Intra-State Conflicts. Inter. J. Polit. Sci. Develop. 2(10): 258-265

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