Beyond the Gatekeeper State

Beyond the Gatekeeper State explores the dynamic changes occurring within and between African states, and the international system since the turn of the century.

Frederick Cooper’s model of ‘gatekeeper states’ – shaped as much by their international links as by their domestic practices – provides the basis for the contributors’ thinking about international relations in Africa and the wider international system. The chapters explore the political implications of Africa’s new relations with the old super-powers, former colonial powers, and the emerging powers from the South. These new relationships reflect and affect changing technology, infrastructure, and resource flows within and between African states. Drawing on both rich empirical cases and theoretical approaches, the book interrogates the implications of these changes on how we think about states and state systems.

Exploring the impact of changing technology, finance, and resources on African politics, Beyond the Gatekeeper State will be of great interest to scholars of African Politics and International Relations (IR), as well as African Studies, IR, and the politics of the Global South more broadly. This book was originally published as a special issue of Third World Thematics.

Sara Rich Dorman is Senior Lecturer in Politics and IR at the University of Edinburgh, UK. She is a former Editor and Book Reviews Editor of African Affairs, and is currently Senior Editor of the Journal of Southern African Studies.