In the ongoing battle against global poverty, the countries of Africa continue to present the greatest challenge. "African Development" offers a comprehensive introduction to the issues, actors, and institutions interacting across the diverse continent. Each issue chapter is organized around three fundamental questions: Where are we now? How did we get to this point? What are the current debates? Interspersed throughout are vivid sidebars acquainting the student with ten well-known "big men" and ten equally important but lesser known African actors. The text also includes the ABCs of development jargon.

Table of Contents

The Complexities and Uncertainties of Development. The Domestic Context. History and the Legacy of Colonialism. Big Men, Personal Rule, and Patronage Politics. Violent Conflict and Civil War. Political Change and Democratization. Core Development Questions. Africa's Slow-Growth Puzzle. Economic Reform and the Politics of Adjustment. The International Aid System. Debt Burdens and Debt Relief. Poverty and Human Development. Regionalism and Globalization. Regional Institutions and Nepad. Africa and World Trade. Private Capital and the Business Environment. Conclusion. Some Emerging Themes.

Author Biography

Todd J. Moss is senior fellow at the Center for Global Development in Washington, DC and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University.