In 1918, Max Weber -German social scientist- set out a formal definition of the state:
"state is a human community that (successfully) claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory".
What is happening during the last months in North African states, has been for a long period of time -and still is- a privilege of sub-saharan Africa, reminding Robert H. Jackson's "quasi-state" definition. African states' stability, relies only on foreign support. A legacy, of western colonization as Basil Davidson once said. Here are some details from the past:
In 1992, an AK-47, costed $14 outside Abidjan.
From 1960-1990, Africa, has seen a total of 18 civil wars.
1963-1985, there have been 61 military coups.
Over 70% of the total value of most African states' exports, is based on 1 or 2 products.
In 1997, Africa, received less than 1% of global investments.
In 1827, a private organization, the American Company of Colonization, bought a territory in western Africa, releasing at the same time African slaves to go there.
20 years later, in 1847, these slaves created what would be the first idependent African state. The state's capital was named Monrovia, after the USA's president James Monroe. The state, was Liberia.
In the '80s, the average reduction of sub-Saharan Africa's GDP was 2%.
In the '90s, Africa's debt exceeded $180 billion.