Boundaries and African nationalism

National boundaries are assuming critical importance in Africa. My\ud thesis is that emphasis on national boundaries and disputes over them\ud are desirable in the evolution of nationalism on the African continent.\ud This derives from the larger construct that nationalism is an essential\ud political stage in the extension of the rule of law from the clan or tribe\ud to the global level, and it is a prime element in attaining an essential\ud economic stage-what W. W. Rostow terms "the takeoff."1 Nationalism is\ud a cohesive force; it could engender the empathy and trust which must\ud exist if individuals and tribes are to pool their talents and invest their resources\ud for mutual benefit by sinking their differences before they sink\ud their newly launched country. A corollary of my thesis is that the emergence\ud of independent states in Africa (and in Asia, to cite the Indian-Goan\ud affair) creates boundary problems of a new magnitude