ABSTRACT
Africa experienced a tortuous history in terms of violent conflict. Large contested spaces worsened conflicts, the subjugation of communities, small and large violent clashes on class and racial grounds, and a geo-space of scarce and contested resources by imposters and frequently by Africans themselves. The Cold War averted war between states in Europe due to a bipolar stalemate in conventional arms and mutually assured destruction in nuclear parity as a haunting spectre. Africa saw two periods of colonization, one starting around 600 years after the birth of Christ if using the Christian calendar. The legacy started earlier. In Europe, the feudal state and an era of monarchs and rule by the royalty were gradually replaced by the nation state’s formation. The nation state’s transition frequently took place through the mobilization for and enactment of internal wars in Europe. The power of the nation state was almost always achieved through organized or military violence.
