An introduction to African politics

'No student of Sub-Saharan African politics can afford to be without this text. It is, by a quite considerable degree, the best current work in the field.'-Adrian Flint, University of Bristol, UK 'This is at excellent book of great use for students. It represents a significant contribution to the study of politics in Africa.'-Jeffrey Haynes, London Metropolitan University, UK 'The diversity of African politics is further illustrated by the inclusion of detailed case studies of individual countries, accompanied by boxed summaries of the main point in each chapter This is a textbook which is well-presented and user friendly'.-The Times The third edition of An Introduction to African Politics continues to be an ideal textbook for those new to the study of this fascinating continent. It gets to the head of the politics of this part of the world, tackling questions such as: How is modern Africa still influenced by its colonial past? How do strong ethnic identities on the continent affect government? Why has the military been so influential? Why do African states have such difficulty managing their economies? How does African democracy differ from democracy in the West? The result is a textbook that identifies the essential features of African politics, allowing students to grasp the recurring political patterns that have dominated this continent since independence. Features and benefits of the third edition: -Thematically organized, with individual chapters exploring issues such as colonialism, ethnicity, nationalism, religion, social class, ideology, legitimacy, authority, sovereignty and democracy. -Identifies key recurrent themes such as the competitive relationships between the African state, its civil society and external interest. -Contains useful boxed case studies at the end of each chapter, including: Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Botswana, C(te d'Ivoire, Uganda, Somalia, Ghana, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe. -Each chapter concludes with key terms and definitions, as well as questions and advice on further reading. -Illustrated throughout with images of important political figures, and key moments in African history. -Important terms and concepts are explained in a clear and accessible manner and supported by contemporary examples. This expanded, fully revised and updated edition remains the ideal gateway for students seeking to make sense of the dynamic and diverse political systems that are a feature of this fascinating part of the world.