Rethinking the concept of power in African politics : a boundary producer

The aim of this paper is to revisit the concept of power in African politics.In the twenty-first century, as the world has become increasingly globalized, the political situation throughout Africa has been changing.Two decades after the end of the Cold War and the initiation of democratization in African countries, it has become necessary to review, and perhaps modify, the perception of African politics and international relations.On the one hand, we have observed significant changes in African politics; on the other hand, the some issues in African politics remain unchanged.Issues such as state building, democratization, the rule of law, and human rights continue to be the crucial political challenges for the future of Africa.These challenges in African politics unavoidably raise a question about the concept of (political) power in terms of its definition, meaning, and function.Therefore, we recognize that power is always the core (and bare) component of understanding politics in Africa, despite changes in its character according to the time and political stage.Power is not only a political engine but also the goal of political activities.The concept of power in contemporary African politics is one that has been thoroughly discussed, but is always undergoing renewal.This paper first revisits the concept of power from the general context of political science.Then the paper reflects on the meaning and function of power as a boundary producer in contemporary African politics.