{"product_id":"9781848138827","title":"African Conflicts and Informal Power Big Men and Networks","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAfrica Now\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch1\u003eAfrican Conflicts and Informal Power\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBig Men and Networks\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eMaya Mynster Christensen | Mats Utas | Nordic Africa Institute | Koen Vlassenroot | Gerhard Anders | Anders Themnér | Henrik Vigh | Mariam Persson | Ruben de Koning | Sandrine Perrot | Ilmari Käihkö | Karel Arnaut | Morten Bøås\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003ePolitical Science \/ Political Economy\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the aftermath of an armed conflict in Africa, the international community both produces and demands from local partners a variety of blueprints for reconstructing state and society. The aim is to re-formalize the state after what is viewed as a period of fragmentation. In reality, African economies and polities are very much informal in character, with informal actors, including so-called Big Men, often using their positions in the formal structure as a means to reach their own goals.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough a variety of in-depth case studies, including the DRC, Sierra Leone and Liberia, this comprehensive volume shows how important informal political and economic networks are in many of the continent's conflict areas. Moreover, it demonstrates that without a proper understanding of the impact of these networks, attempts to formalize African states, particularly those emerging from wars, will be in vain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eMats Utas is a senior lecturer at Uppsala University, and formerly a senior researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e08 March 2012\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZed Books\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9781848138827\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePaperback softback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePage Count: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e264\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight (oz): \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e14.56\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Academic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51369189441676,"sku":"9781848138827","price":34.16,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/9545\/1788\/files\/getimage_3e6a9de7-3605-4f88-b091-f90c100fee35.jpg?v=1783878250","url":"https:\/\/fh90cf-fv.myshopify.com\/products\/9781848138827","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}