Michael Weiss. Reviewed by Steven Negus. A masked militant with a drawn knife, preparing to slaughter a helpless captive: This…
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.
Daniel Resnick And Nicolas van de Walle. Development scholars and public policy advisors who focus on the effectiveness of foreign…
Michael Bratton and Robert Mattes. Reviewed By Devra Moehler. Observers of sub-Saharan Africa are sharply divided over the consequences of…
By James Rickards. In 1971, President Nixon imposed national price controls and took the United States off the gold standard,…
By Ashish J. Thakkar. More movies are made in Nigeria than Hollywood each year. M-pesa, arguably the world’s most successful…
By Narayan, Deepa, Ed.; Petesch, Patti, Ed. This book, the last volume in a three-part series, draws on a large-scale…
By Joseph Stiglitz. Reviewed By Brandon Wicks. Once upon a time, not altogether too long ago, we talked about something…
Women, Men and the Zar Cult in Northern Sudan. By Janice Boddy. Reviewed by Tanya Luhrman. A woman in…
Reviewed By Chris Nelson. Andrew Cockburn. Kill Chain: The Rise of the High-Tech Assassins. It’s not often that a…
Greg Mills And Jeffrey Herbst. Reviewed By Stanley Uleys. If a miracle were to sweep Robert Mugabe out of office,…