Scott Seward Smith focuses on Afghanistan's 2004 presidential election—the first popular election ever held there—as he explores the painstaking attempt by the United Nations to develop democratic institutions in the country. Smith thoroughly describes the personalities, policies, bureaucracies, and external factors that shaped the faltering transition process from 2001 through    More >

Bennett emphasizes political history of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, introducing economic, social, and other historical themes where appropriate. While he necessarily includes an extensive systematic account of the various modes of colonial rule, he makes a special effort to explore less well-known topics as well, such as the role of European-educated Africans in the formation of an    More >

Choice Outstanding Academic Book! This in-depth analysis of the role of international trade in Africa focuses on four central issues: the trade policies of the sub-Saharan African countries; the impact of GATT and its successor, the World Trade Organization; the impact of specific GATT/WTO agreements; and the viability of regional economic integration as a strategy for trade and    More >

Although relatively new to Africa, maize has recently replaced cassava as the continent's most important food crop, and increased maize production has the potential of helping to reverse Africa's food crisis. This book presents the results of extensive field research on the maize economy in six African countries, as well as broader-based studies of maize research and extension (R&E),    More >

This thoughtful discussion probes the international roots of Africa's civil conflicts and lackluster economies. Analyzing an unwitting system that creates a set of incentives inimical to development, the authors offer a new way of thinking about Africa's development dilemmas and the policy options for addressing them.   Weak states, aid dependence, crushing debt, and enclave    More >

Reflecting the debate between state-centered and human-security approaches to security strategy, Africa-US Relations explores the interactions between the US and African countries in a wide spectrum of key arenas. The authors range from such traditional security issues as peacekeeping and terrorism to concerns with HIV/AIDS, environmental degradation, aid policies, and international trade. Their    More >

Winner of the 2010 African Politics Conference Group Best Book Award! Though the demise of one or another African state has been heralded for nearly five decades, the map of the continent remains virtually unchanged. By and large, these states have failed to protect and promote the interests of their citizens; yet they endure. Asking why, Pierre Englebert carefully articulates the manner    More >

A founding member of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League, A.P. Mda was known for his passionate advocacy of African nationalism and his support for armed struggle against apartheid in the 1950s. Many of his peers considered him the foremost intellectual and strategist of their generation. Robert Edgar and Luyanda ka Msumza trace Mda's life from his early years through his three    More >

Amid an array of shifting national, regional, and global forces, how have African insurgents managed to adapt and survive? And what differences and similarities can be found, both among the continent's diverse rebellions and guerrilla movements and between them and movements elsewhere in the world? Addressing these issues, the authors of Africa's Insurgents explore how new groups are    More >

Comprehensive and engaging, this timely introduction to Africa's international relations explores how power, interests, and ideas influence interactions both among the continent's states and between African states and other actors in the global arena. How has history shaped the international relations of African states and peoples? What role does identity play? How are foreign policies    More >