The State of Africa : a history of fifty years of independence

By - Meredith Martin

Floor - Floor 4

Published - Free, New York, 2006

ISBN 10 - 0743232224

ISBN 13 - 9780743232227

Book Status - 2 Qnty Available with us.

Subject - Africa Politics and government 1945-1960

Shelf No - 5

Call Number - 960.32 MER

Physical Description - vi, 752 pages, 24 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 20 cm

Notes - Includes index

Book Information

Africa is forever on our TV screens, but the bad-news stories (famine, genocide, corruption) massively outweigh the good (South Africa). Ever since the process of decolonialisation began in the mid-1950s, and arguably before, the continent has appeared to be stuck in a process of irreversible decline. Constant war, improper use of natural resources and misappropriation of revenues and aid monies contribute to an impression of a continent beyond hope. How did we get here? What, if anything, is to be done? Weaving together the key stories and characters of the last fifty years into a stunningly compelling and coherent narrative, Martin Meredith has produced the definitive history of how European ideas of how to organise 10,000 different ethnic groups has led to what Tony Blair described as the 'scar on the conscience of the world'. Authoritative, provocative and consistently fascinating, this is a major book on one of the most important issues facing the West today.

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