Publisher's Synopsis
African Politics: Critical and Primary Sources, Volume 3 deals with readings on the "Political Economy of Stagnation and Development." Recognizing that politics in Africa, as elsewhere, is exercised within the material world that constrains it, scholars have debated vital issues within the sub-field of African political economy. These issues include the historical, climatic, geographical, and resource-based constraints of African economies, and how they impact the political sphere. Over the past several decades, there have been vibrant debates regarding the management of African economies by governments and donors, and the viability of intended remedies for economic failure, including controversial donor-sponsored programs for economic reform. In recent years, scholars and practitioners have debated the reasons behind the improved performance of many African economies since the late 1990s. This volume, then, provides the essential readings that have shaped these debates on African political economy, development, and stagnation.