Readings in African Politics

Readings in African Politics provides an overview of key topics andthemes that collectively contribute to an understanding of politics in Africa. Theselections included here come from a wide range of Western and non-Western sourcesand together represent core knowledge in the field of African politics. Topic areascovered are methods for appraising the modern African state, approaches tounderstanding African states and their politics, dimensions of regional conflict, conflict between traditional and modern values, the politics of new social forces, and the meaning of contemporary trends. An introductory essay by Tom Young sketchesthe terrain of politics in Africa from national and international efforts towarddevelopment to local problems such as corruption and ethnic conflict. Readers at alllevels will find even-handed coverage of politics in sub-Saharan Africa's more than30 states from the early years of independence to today.