Donal B. Cruise O'Brien

Modernization, order, and the erosion of a democratic ideal: American political science 1960–70

Studies of ‘modernization’ conducted by American political scientists over the past decade (1960–70) show a shift in teleological emphasis through which democracy as a goal for developing polities has been gradually displaced by another ideal, that of institutional order. This shift in emphasis is here related (a) to an emerging pattern of political dislocation in new states; (b) to United States government policy in dealing with these states; (c) to the domestic politics of the United States, and in particular to the salience of ‘law and order’ as a political issue in the late 1960s. Preoccupied with problems of political order at home and abroad, political scientists have looked to authoritarian solutions: in some cases they have re‐examined Lenins organizational principles, and found merit in the achievements of ‘totalitarian’ regimes which can build and maintain stable political institutions.

Towards an 'Islamic Policy' in French West Africa, 1854-1914

The French government, in the early part of this period, from 1854 to the turn of the century, did not have a consistent or systematic ‘Islamic policy’ for ts colonial possessions. There were, however, certain patterns of administration which, quite unintentionally, gave a new impetus to the spread of Islam in Vest Africa. The first section of the article deals with this period, when the basis for later policy was laid but when policy was not yet systematically articulated. The creation of the Service des Affaires Musulmanes et Sahariennes in Paris in 1900, and of the Service des Affaires Musulmanes in Dakar in 1906, together with the works of scholar-administrators such as Le Chatelier, Arnaud and Marty, marks the definition of a general policy towards Islam in colonial territories. This policy was aimed, in particular, to secure the loyalty of the Muslim notables, and to use them as intermediaries and tools of administration. In a final section, the article deals with the renewed fear of Islam which affected France, with the intensification of pan-Islamic propaganda from Turkey immediately before the First World War, and with the change in policy which resulted. The outbreak of war, which enabled the Muslim elite to demonstrate its real loyalty to France, provided, however, a final reassurance.

Satan Steps Out from the Shadows Religion and Politics in Africa

Thought and talk of the devil seem to be on the increase in Africa-rumours and accusations of devil worship, in some instances-and it may be timely to try to situate these developments. The singular devil was an import to Africa, coming with the world religions of Islam and Christianity, part of the spiritual ensemble in either case. Malicious spirits of the village, the family, the locality could thus be subsumed under the authority of the Prince of Evil. Spiritual centralisation has been assisted by the imported state and by the market, by the enlargement of political and economic scale. The literature on religious conversion in Africa is pertinent here: explanation of the factors that favoured the world religions applies to the devil too. Two of the works under review, by Stephen Ellis and Birgit Meyer, show that African discussion of the devil should also be understood as ambiguous, and can be influenced by garbled spiritual translation: there can be transposition between imported devil and previously familiar spiritual forces. The impact of multi-party struggle in recent years has added a new dimension to the competition of the market, the armed version of multi-party politics in the Liberian style providing a particularly favourable terrain for the devils work.