Are there social, political and cultural factors in Africa which aspire to the continuation of patrimony and conspire against economic development? This work addresses this and other questions in its examination of the political instrumentalization of disorder.

Introduction - transitions and continuities - the question of analysis. Part 1 The informalization of politics: whither the state?
the illusions of civil society
recycled elites. Part 2 The re-traditionalization of society: of masks and men - the question of identity
the use and abuse of the irrational - witchcraft and religion
warlords bosses and thugs - the profits of violence. Part 3 The productivity of economic "failure": the moral economy of corruption
the bounties of dependence
what if Africa refused to develop?. Conclusion - a new paradigm - the political instrumentalization of disorder.