Product Description

Africa is forever on our TV screens, but the bad-news stories (famine, genocide, corruption) massively outweigh the good (South Africa). Ever since the process of decolonialisation began in the mid-1950s, and arguably before, the continent has appeared to be stuck in a process of irreversible decline. Constant war, improper use of natural resources and misappropriation of revenues and aid monies contribute to an impression of a continent beyond hope. How did we get here? What, if anything, is to be done? Weaving together the key stories and characters of the last fifty years into a stunningly compelling and coherent narrative, Martin Meredith has produced the definitive history of how European ideas of how to organise 10,000 different ethnic groups has led to what Tony Blair described as the 'scar on the conscience of the world'. Authoritative, provocative and consistently fascinating, this is a major book on one of the most important issues facing the West today.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #626 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 768 pages

R. W. Johnson, Sunday Times
'A series of often vivid country snapshots . . . Meredith is a sure guide to this colossal, sad story'

Piers Brendon, Sunday Telegraph
'As a popular introduction to the subject it could hardly be bettered'

Richard Dowden, Spectator
'This book is important . . . [It] is also great narrative . . . A spectacularly clear view of the African political jungle'

Customer Reviews

Excellent, but strengths contribute to it's weaknesses....
A fantastic book to serve as an introduction to the complex issue of Africa post World War 2. What makes it such a great book is how straightforward and easy to read it is. However this proves to be it's weakness at times as well, as often it feels like certain issues, in particular economic analysis feels like it is being brushed over in order to make the book easier to read.

Which is a harsh critique, but I cannot pay the book any more of a compliment then stating how much of an eye opener the book was and how it has asked many questions, questions I seek to answer by reading more books about topics covered in the text.

A Must Read!
I read this book earlier this year, and it is a must read for all people interested in African Politics in the past 50 years. I recomend it especially for the younger generation who want to know about a politics in a continent that so much as happened on from decolonization to war, famine, greed, hate but also progress.
It covers all the different parts of africa, the challenges that african countries posessed, the leaders that failed and succeded, the power of the armies in african politics and the subsequent result of all these actions.
It is important to read about all the different countries, the different individuals and political leaders and parties, the ideology of all these differen't leaders and their parties and the impact they still have in africa today.
A very important book that all africans should read!

Extremely well-written recent history that makes you sad and mad
In only 688 pages Martin Meredith succeeds in capturing the recent history of more or less the whole of (sub-Saharan) Africa, throwing in a few countries above the Sahara for good measure. After a brief introduction, he starts off at independence of most countries, and what you read does not make you happy. With only very few exception new rulers with initially good intentions turn within no-time into greedy, ruthless killers that divide the loot (read "the treasury"and "the natural resources of their countries") among themselves, their close familiy, their tribe and their cronies. When things get too obvious, a military coup follows, after which the new leaders do exactly the same. And in the meantime the common people suffer, be it from the lawlessness of Somalia, the genocide in Rwanda, the economic ruins in Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe, or the denial of Mbeki in South Africa that HIV causes AIDS. And these are only a few of the countless examples that make you feel quite depressed. Despite all the foreign aid that is being poured into a continent that has such rich resources (gold, diamonds, oil and a host of minerals), the economic situation of most people has only deteriorated since independence. and this is also in stark contrast to for example Southeast Asia that has gone through an economic explosion.

I regularly work in Africa in collaborative scientific research projects on infectious diseases and I see abysmal hospital facilities, people (including colleagues) dying from diseases that can easily be cured and hot-shots whose only attitude is "what is in it for me?" (and they are so shameless that they actually ask you that question). But I also see tons of very dedicated people -mainly in the lower echelons-, trying to make the best of the meagre resources they have available, people who thoroughly know how to enjoy life and are as hospitable as can be. I always tell them that they are too friendly and slightly naive in believing the promises made. If in the west we would have a ruler like Mugabe, we would have kicked him out years (and put him in prison for good measure).

In my opinion education is key to solving the problems of Africa: educated people are people who can make their own decisions, are able to critically evaluate their options and ultimately can decide together what is best for their country. And yes, maybe in some instances it will be necessary to re-consider borders so that they coincide better with historical delineations between tribes and religions. But it will ask for vision, courage and patience and the question is whether there will be sufficient time available...