Arbitrary States: Social Control and Modern Authoritarianism in Museveni's Uganda

Scholars have observed the emergence of a new type of authoritarianism worldwide, where rulers manipulate institutions to exercise arbitrary power. This book combines literature on post-colonial African states with modern authoritarianism to develop a framework called "institutionalized arbitrariness." It explains how modern authoritarian rulers project power even in environments with functional state institutions, checks and balances, and the rule of law. The book conducts qualitative field research in Uganda and presents an original framework to explain how state assertions and withdrawals of power inject unpredictability into the political relationship between local authorities and citizens, limiting space for collective action and political claim-making. The book is grounded in empirical research and literature theorizing the African state and aims to inform a broader debate about contemporary forms of authoritarianism, state-building, and state consolidation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 01 July 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

In recent years, scholars have observed a concerning trend of authoritarianism emerging worldwide, where rulers manipulate institutions intended to uphold the rule of law to serve their own interests, ultimately facilitating the exercise of arbitrary power. While scholars continue to grapple with this novel phenomenon, scholarship on African politics provides valuable insights. This book brings together literature on post-colonial African states and modern authoritarianism to frame a comprehensive study of Uganda's informal security actors, including vigilante groups, local militias, and community police. Through ten months of qualitative field research, the book develops an original framework called "institutionalized arbitrariness," which explains how modern authoritarian rulers project arbitrary power even in environments with relatively functional state institutions, checks and balances, and the rule of law.

In regimes characterized by institutionalized arbitrariness, the state's unpredictable assertions and withdrawals of power create a volatile political landscape. This unpredictability hinders citizens' ability to predict which authority will claim jurisdiction in a given situation and what rules will apply. Consequently, this environment limits the space for collective action and political claim-making, while keeping citizens marginally engaged in the democratic process. The book is firmly grounded in empirical research and literature that theorizes the African state, with the aim of contributing to a broader debate about contemporary forms of authoritarianism, state-building, and state consolidation.

Oxford Studies in African Politics and International Relations is a prestigious series dedicated to scholars engaged in the study of African politics and international relations.

Weight: 538g
Dimension: 160 x 241 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198856474