Governance, security, and development are three critical components of a dialectical nexus that is both dominant and determinant for any objective and fruitful quest for the understanding of the trajectory of a country, a region or, in the case of Africa, a continent from a colonial past to a neocolonial and meta-colonial present, and toward a future of strategic optimal independence and self-reliance. That colonial past and the ensuing neocolonial and meta-colonial present have made these critical components and the dialectical nexus that they form particularly challenging for the African continent. For this reason, Issues of Governance, Security and Development in Contemporary Africa offers an in-depth, interdisciplinary analysis of the challenges that contemporary Africa faces within these critical areas, as well as the resources and prospects that the continent possesses and can leverage to overcome the said challenges. Using case studies involving a range of countries across the continent, Mohamed Saliou Camara, Alem Hailu, and Sabella O. Abidde argue that Africa needs to decolonize the terms of reference that guide its nation-building, statecraft, and national development agenda in ways that will facilitate the establishment of viable systems of governance and security, and the promotion of genuine development.
Mohamed Saliou Camara is professor in the Department of African Studies at Howard University. Alem Hailu is associate professor of African Studies at Howard University. Sabella O. Abidde is professor of political science and member of the graduate faculty at Alabama State University.
This book magnifies understanding and puts information about Africa squarely into the hands of the academia, global corporations, world governments, and any reader seeking to understand Africa's challenges, opportunities, leaders, policy-makers, and society-at-large. I have no grain of doubt that the critical analysis of leadership and sociopolitical changes, peace and security in the regions of the continent -- all assiduously covered under the case studies -- make this book a must-read.--Josepha M. Musabyemariya Nelson, Assistant to the Ambassador and Officer for Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, African Union Mission to the USA This novel collection attempts to move past competition between China and the United States and recenter Africa in debates surrounding its governance, security and development. Many of its chapters offer original takes to key debates within an African studies space. Readers hoping to be introduced to these arguments will find this text valuable.--Tom McNamara, La Trobe University This voume is a call to our collective consciences.--Kehbuma Langmia, author of "Black/Africana Communication Theory"
