The passing of the colonial order from much of Africa left a complex geopolitical environment within which to confront the problems of modernization. Since 1960 African states have had to cope with a confused mosaic of competing sovereignties bequeathed by the colonial scramble and the breakup of the colonial federations. In spite of the appeal of pan-Africanism to many African intellectuals, diversity and differentiation rather than unity have been the rule in the post-colonial era, both within most African states and in their international relations. Despite similar legacies and many common problems, African governments have found it difficult to transcend their colonial boundaries either in the name of political ideology or apolitical efficiency.

A number of African leaders have devoted considerable effort to changing this situation. Seme, of whom Kwame Nkrumah is perhaps the most familiar example, have stressed the achievement of continental political unity as the most effective approach to reorganizing the inter-African system. Others, of whom Leopold Senghor is a prime example, have emphasized regional projects based on cooperation in economic and technical domains without regard to political unity. Senghor's approach reflects the functionalist notion that there are relatively noncontroversial matters which provide a foundation for the gradual development of international institutions. Senegal's inter-African diplomacy under Senghor, therefore, provides a framework within which to evaluate functionalism as a strategy of international organization in the context of contemporary Africa.