As Africa struggles to take its rightful place in the global arena, it must, once again, face the dreadful prospect…
Browsing: Book Reviews
This book offers a comprehensive, research-driven analysis of the persistent economic underdevelopment in Africa, with Nigeria as a central case study. It argues that Nigeria’s failure to achieve sustained growth stems from weak social institutions, corrupt governance, and mismanagement of resources—issues common across the continent, though shaped by local contexts. The book contrasts these challenges with successful development strategies in Southeast Asia, emphasizing the importance of foundational institutions.
Early chapters trace Nigeria’s institutional decline since independence, highlighting systemic barriers to progress despite abundant natural and human resources. Later sections critique widely accepted growth models—especially the overreliance on foreign direct investment—as ineffective for nations lacking a solid economic base. Instead, the book advocates for development strategies grounded in proven, context-sensitive frameworks.
Intended for readers interested in global development, the book serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, practitioners, and organizations working to promote sustainable growth in Africa.
By Francois Bourguigon. Reviewed by Michael West. Inequality not only seems to be an intractable problem, it also seems to…
John Ghazvinian. Reviewed by Steven Martinovich. With continued instability in the Middle East and the political difficulty of drilling on…
By Ha-Joon Chang Reviewed by Professor Arne Rückert. Ha-Joon Chang’s book Kicking Away the Ladder represents an important addition to…
Morten Jerven. Reviewed by Katrina Manson. Africa is becoming something of a trend. Analysts have recently sought to paint the…
Edited by Thokozani Simelane, Mohamed Abdel-Rahman. The world’s demand for energy coupled with a decreasing stock and supply of fossil…
By Terry Lynn Karl. “All in all I wish we had discovered water” Sheik Yamani, Oil Minister of Saudi Arabia.…
Paul J. Smith. Since the Al Qaeda attacks of 11 September 2001, there have been as many experts as there…
By Julius O. Ihonvbere. Reviewed by Gail Gerhart. Another perspective on Africa’s economic and political crises. This study reviews the…
By US Army College, John-Peter Pham, Strategic Studies Institute. For more than 2 decades, Somalia has been the prime example…