How do political systems in Africa work? Is the "real" business ofpolitics taking place outside the scope of standard political analysis, in an"informal" or more personalised setting? How are the prospects for reform andrenewal in African societies affected by the emerging elites? Is "modernisation" inAfrica different? Are there within African countries social, political and culturalfactors which aspire to the continuation of patrimony and conspire against economicdevelopment?Relations of power between rulers and the ruledcontinue to inform the role of the state and the expectations of the newlyemphasized civil society. The question of identity, the resurgence of ethnicity andits attendant "tribal" politics, the growing importance of African religions and theincreasing resort to extreme and often ritualised violence in situations of civildisorder, point to a process of "re-traditionalising" in AfricansocietiesAfrican Issues, edited by Alex de WaalFebruary1999 192 pp 5 x 8 Index