ABSTRACT
In W est Africa nationalist leaders faced the necessity of accumulating sufficient political power to oust the ruling colonial regimes and occupy the authority roles themselves. To accomplish their goals, they had to draw upon all the various political resources. More than goods, services, and money were needed, though these were basic. Status had to be withdrawn from the European rulers and the status of African leaders had to be ex alted. Information had to be gathered through a widespread organizational network, and this same organizational structure was needed to exercise au thority within the movement. The decisive resources for achieving inde pendence, however, were violence and legitimacy. To gain authority, Afri can leaders had to be able to threaten violence against the colonial regime and to carry out their threats if demands for self-government were ignored; they also had to discredit the legitimacy of the colonial rulers. Though the
1 Zolberg (1966:13).
