Synopses & Reviews
In a follow-up to his ground-breaking
Africa Betrayed, George Ayittey takes up the plight of Africa at the end of the twentieth century. Former UN Secretary General Boutros-Boutros Ghali once said that Africa was “in danger of becoming the lost continent” and, on this point, Ayittey thoroughly agrees. As he begins to see countries like Nigeria go over the edge of economic and social disaster, Ayittey uses his formidable powers of analysis to look at the political economy of Africa, the incursion of foreign powers and the relationship of Africa to the world market. He contrasts the indigenous systems of government that existed in Africa before the arrival of Europeans with the colonial and post-colonial systems that were forced on the country and the effect these systems have had on Africas inability to move forward. Ayitteys view is dark and, as always, his stinging conclusions will infuriate some and invigorate others. Certain to create controversy,
Africa in Chaos is a must-read for fans of Ayitteys earlier work as well as anyone interested in the world economic scene today.
Review
“Crucial for anyone seeking an understanding of Africa's condition . . . Read it now, before it's too late.” —
The Washington Times“Robust and provocative.” —The New York Times Book Review
Synopsis
George Ayittey takes up the plight of Africa at the end of the twentieth century.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [373]-385) and index.
About the Author
George B. N. Ayittey is an associate professor in the department of economics at American University in Washington, D.C. He is the author of
Africa Betrayed. He lives in Lorton, Virginia.
Table of Contents
I bought this book because I think that George does some of the clearest thinking and most useful writing on Africa that I've seen. He is controversial, but he clearly loves Africa and says what he says for the benefit of the African people.
Prologue * Introduction: The Lost Continent * Africa’s Crises and Underdevelopment * The Indigenous and the Modern Systems: A Comparative Analysis * The Illiterate Elites * The Vampire African State * The Inevitable Implosion * The Acrobatics on Reform * How the West Compounded Africa’s Crisis * Alternative Solutions to Africa’s Crisis * Epilogue and Conclusions * Bibliography * Index