The lack of regional hegemon in Africa: Perspectives from international relations theories

This study is an attempt to understand why Africa lacks a regional hegemon and the seeming lack of aspirations by any African state towards this end. The logic behind this rests with the hypothesis that African problems would be easily managed and effectively addressed if effective leadership (regional hegemon) exists. The lack of same dissuades the focus and direction needed and benchmarks the openness and exposure of the continent to exploitation by other regional and global superpowers. The study was carried-out by analyzing and testing the logical fundamentals of the three basic theories of international relations: realism, liberalism and constructivism. In other words, the researcher employed a theory testing approach to examine the puzzle under consideration. From the examination of the three basic theories of International relation, it emerged that the realist perspective offered better explanatory power than the other two perspectives. In an intriguing fashion, the explanations provided by the two perspectives (liberalism and constructivism) go to reinforce the logical consistency and psychoanalyses of leadership presented by the realist perspective. In other words, the two theories explain the 'means' towards an 'end' sanctioned in the realist thought – hegemonic power.