African Political Systems Religiously based versus Ethnically based
The framework of a nation’s political system dictates the governing mechanism used to ascertain order throughout the societal realm. Over the last couple of centuries, the nation-state has become a feature of the political schemes present in most societies today. ... Some nations in 19th century Africa based their political structure on religion or distinct ethnic identity as a means to establish communal order. Such systems include the religiously-based Sokoto Caliphate and the ethnically-based Zulu state. Comparing the outcomes in these African nations demonstrates the greater feasibility of the religious-ideologically based systems over those founded on mere ethnic grounds. ... State laws and political order were made justifiable to the people by Caliphate Islamic ideologies, as Asma’u urged that “…the pursuit of Divine Truth…” would only be fulfilled “…through adherence to Caliphate laws…”(Mack & Boyd, 39).