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This chapter examines the state memorialization of the colonial past via narratives, practices, and visual culture. First, it briefly describes some of the ways in which French colonization was represented during the period of the one-party state (1960–1991), using them as a benchmark against which to gauge changes in those representations by the democratic and neoliberal state that followed. Second, it examines the state memorialization of French colonization since 1991, focusing on the Koulouba monument complex in Bamako, the largest series of monuments dedicated to Mali's colonial history. It details the emergence of a new narrative of colonization that suggests contacts, hybridity, and cross-feeding—a representation reflecting some of the experiences and narratives of Mali's cosmopolitan political and cultural elites. Third, it analyze Ségouvian citizens' perspectives on the government's memorialization project in light of their experience with state encroachment on their city's patrimony. This final section centers on the confrontation between the state and peripheral urban communities over the management of the colonial heritage and explores some of its political and cultural implications, including the embryonic development of a few private heritage initiatives in Ségou.

Chapter 2 shows the poor economic performance of the Latin America republics during the decades after independence compared to the more advanced countries. This performance is related to the difficulties involved in building the new nation-States and the delay with which the liberal reforms were introduced, including the late abolition of slavery in some countries. Performance was better in peripheral areas where the reforms advanced fastest. Until the transport revolution arrived by the last quarter of the XIX century, the geography of the region also continued to be a constraining factor. Growth was extremely segmented: despite the successful export growth in some areas, the major share of population lived in backward and stagnant areas, leading Latin America as a whole to lag vis-à-vis the industrial world.

Owing to the legacy of British colonial heritage, government investiture in India was to be guided by the Westminster norm of weak formal parliamentary involvement in the government formation process. However, the transformation of the country’s party system over the past decades has led to questions about the suitability of parliament’s role. In this chapter it is demonstrated that in India the level of parliamentary input in the government formation process decreases with the decisiveness of the electoral verdict. When general elections produce a majority parliament, the President can confirm the electoral verdict by appointing the new government according to the wishes of the majority party. On the other hand, when general elections fail to produce a clear verdict, or the majority mandate is lost mid-term, the need and scope for legislative input increases.