In this comprehensive narrative of the political and economic evolution of Africa, Robert I. Rotberg explains the critical events, players and policies in the continent's tumultuous shift toward democracy. The book reviews the process of decolonization throughout the continent--and subsequent debut of democracy and authoritarianism--the transition of settler-run Rhodesia into African Zimbabwe, and the battle for Southern Africa. Rotberg then traces the epic struggle to free South Africa from the yoke of apartheid, including the contributions of leaders such as Nelson Mandela. He concludes with a look at how current developments will affect Africa's continuing transition to democratic rule into the 21st century. The book includes a collection of Rotberg's best opinion pieces and analytical articles from 40 years of reporting on Africa's democratic efforts.
Robert I. Rotberg is director of the Program on Intrastate Conflict, Conflict Prevention, and Conflict Resolution at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and president of the World Peace Foundation. Rotberg is the author or editor of numerous books, including State Failure and State Weakness in a Time of Terror (Brookings/WPF, 2003).
"Rotberg brings remarkable fluency and erudition to the project. His essays cover an impressive range of topics.... This book- thanks to both its careful history and its policy prescriptions- should become essential reading for anyone seriously interested in Africa." -Jonathan Tepperman, Foreign Affairs magazine, Christian Science Monitor, 7/11/2002 |"The book under review is a comprehensive account of the political, economic and social development of southern Africa since 1960... The book is very interesting for students of southern Africaas it is a useful historical record, capturing the flavor of the times when the various articles and op-eds were written." -Ian Taylor, University of Botswana, African Affairs |"Rotberg's style and presentation make the material easily available to a broad public, while simultaneously serving a need amongst both academics and politicians today of a deeper understanding of the history and background of many of the present problems in Africa...Rotberg has fulfilled his task in several respects with clear and logical arguments. His style is concise and readable...It should become essential reading for anyone seriously interested in Africa thanks to its careful empirical account of developments and current history." -Liv Torres, Labour International Think Tank, The European Journal of Development Research, 1/1/2004
