Crisis In Africa

The great power rivalry surging across Africa today is a heritage of those European statesmen who a century ago in Berlin ruled straight lines on school atlases to carve up a continent-and whole nations with it-into tidy colonial compartments. With African states searching for a political identity in the post-colonial era, the superpowers are now j

The first edition of this incisive text on the problems of drought and famine facing Africa won worldwide critical acclaim. Revised with a new introduction, Lloyd Timberlake's bestselling study is invaluable reading for anyone interested in Africa.

The contributors not only study state breakdown but compare the consequences of post-communism with those of post-colonialism.

This book establishes a nexus between corruption in public procurement and the prevailing crisis of governance in Africa. The African continent is characterised by the growing concern for the deteriorating human security. In the midst of these woes, African political leaders are known for their stupendous wealth and riches through expropriation of national resources for personal benefits. This growing inequality in the continent has become a major driver for a series of violent and criminal activities, which have added to the worsening governance crisis. Thus, the abuse of public power for advancing private gain constitutes an impediment to effective public service delivery, thereby engendering a crisis of governance. The consequence of this is not limited to the socio-economic growth and welfare of citizens, but it often also jeopardizes the democratic credentials and objectives of the state.

Thirteen chapters examine contemporary political and economic problems in Africa, analyzing causes and suggesting alternatives. Presented by editors from the U. of Central Lancashire (UK), the articles reject much of the self-serving explanations proffered by Western corporate elites and African autocrats for African problems, locating the root causes in lack of democracy at both national and international levels. Specific topics include international donors and civil society in Zimbabwe, implications for African export policies of misconceptions about the "world market," French foreign policy towards Africa, imperialism and Sub-Saharan Africa, and multinational peacekeeping operations in Africa. Distributed by Stylus. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The Responsive University puts forward the proposition that the societal legitimacy of universities depends on whether and how they respond to societal challenges. This issue is exemplified in South Africa, one of the most unequal countries in the world.

While the pitiful images of famine victims generally emanate from the very poorest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the entire region faces an intense economic crisis. Why is this area in a state of near-permanent crisis and perhaps more importantly, what can be done about it? In Economic Crisis in Africa the authors use country studies to examine how this situation has come about. The book is divided into four parts: Part I presents an overall perspective of the African Crisis and its management; Part II addresses the problems of the external sector; Part III discusses the crises and structural adjustment from a microperspective; and finally, Part IV examines changes in economic systems which took place during the 1980s. At a time when famine again threatens the area, this work offers a valuable insight into a highly complex and critical situation.