SOAS Research Online

Abstract

My interest to undertake the study leading to this thesis was first aroused in May 1963, during the first meeting of the African Heads of States which established the OAU. Further inquiries revealed a political phenomenon that has been called African presidentialism. The advent of one-party government which was the basis of African presidentialism has been complicated by the intervention of the military in politics, or by threats of such intervention. A comparative study of African constitutions focused on the Executive was therefore, I felt, worth undertaking. The scope and purpose of the thesis is to examine the structure and organisation of the Executive in a comparative setting. The thesis is divided into four parts. The introductory part (Part One) aims to provide a historical and socio-political background to the study. Part Two deals with the various Executive forms in Africa: Chapter three deals with the monarchies. Chapter four with dual executive systems, and Chapter five with executive presidencies. The commonest system is that of the executive presidency; accordingly, Chapter five is considered to be the central part of the thesis. Executive presidency for African presidentialism) rests on the twin pillars of the one-party and on the civil service. Hence part three deals with an account of these two institutions in Africa. The last part deals with the advent of the military in Africa. Some of the major causes of coups d'etat are examined together with some case studies (chapter eight). This is followed by brief accounts of selected military regimes considered as Executives.