Chabal and Political Science

Abstract

Patrick Chabal has written a broad overview of African politics and African social relations. There is a lot in his book I agree with, and a lot I find interesting. My comments will focus on the book's critique of the discipline of political science, since the book directs a stinging critique at my chosen discipline and, to a lesser extent, at contemporary economics. In his critique, Chabal appears to want to define what Africanist area studies should be about in the future, and I want to offer a discussion of his claims, because I do not agree with his view of either the discipline of political science or what it can offer Africanist area studies.