Contending Issues in African Development: Advances, Challenges, and the Future, Vol. 219

Taking a forward-looking approach, this book critically examines the issues and dynamics central to Africa's problematic development and situates these issues within the contents unique cultural, political, economic, and social milieu. Moving away from a simple litany of problems bedeviling Africa's economy, the book is the culmination of several scholars' efforts to identify specific causative factors. Each chapter delineates a specific issue, demonstrates the role it plays in overall development, and speculates on probable ways to meet the challenges it poses. The major conceptual and epistemological constructs considered include the tamed African State, social capacity, management of change, reconceptualized gender roles, and economic integration.

Although the contributors' various approaches diverge and disagree, the epistemological variations contribute cumulatively to an understanding of the issues at the root of Africa's slow pace of development. While traversing the spectrum of issues that affect development, the book uniquely points out that the management of change is pivotal to fostering development. The authors' efforts provide a useful base for future research and help to chart a course of action leading to success in the 21st century.

Examines the issues and dynamics central to Africa's problematic development and situates those issues within the contents unique cultural, political, economic, and social milieu.

Booknews

Iheduru (political science, Fort Valley State U., Georgia) presents 15 contributions from a variety of social science disciplines that examine the unique environmental, cultural, political, and economic issues that undergird and determine the direction of African development. Each chapter attempts to deal with specific issue areas and to determine to role of that issue area in the overall development process. Among the topics explored are the role of the African state in managing resources, the role of civil societies in the development of democracy and democratic institutions, a comparative analysis of human rights in the African and Western senses, the impact of structural adjustment programs (SAPs) on the African economy, the role of women in African development, and the possible benefits of regional integration proposals. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

OBIOMA M. IHEDURU is Associate Professor of Political Science and Co-director of the Center for Social Science Research at Fort Valley State University.