The emergence of weak states in Africa: Rethinking the sovereignty and the state under the influence of the colonial legacy

In this thesis study, colonization of African states, their gaining independence in the post-colonization period and their weak state structures were addressed. The focus of the study was placed on the effect of colonization on the creation of sovereignty within a problematic and process of state-building. It was aimed to investigate what processes they went through when the colonization period ended and the post-colonization period started and whether their weak state structure was a product of this process. This study was limited to the African continent. It was presumed that the domestic and foreign resources benefited from were at a level that would account for the research within the framework of the determined limitations. Data were collected through the literature survey method. In the analysis of the data, a qualitative research method was adopted. Accordingly, the historical research method was employed, and the findings obtained were described and evaluated through the descriptive analysis method. While the dependent variables were sovereignty and weak state structure, the independent variable was determined as the colonial legacy. As a result of the study, it was concluded that colonial legacy led to the formation of sovereignty and nation-state in a different way. While the colonial legacy negatively affected sovereignty on the African continent, it paved the way for the creation of state-nations rather than nation-states. As a result of this, weak state structures emerged on the African continent.