Librería Portfolio

Book Description
The Political Economy of Africa addresses the real possibilities for African development in the coming decades when seen in the light of the continent's economic performance over the last half-century. This involves an effort to emancipate our thinking from the grip of western economic models that have often ignored Africa's diversity in their rush to peddle simple nostrums of dubious merit.

The book addresses the seemingly intractable economic problems of the African continent, and traces their origins. It also brings out the instances of successful economic change, and the possibilities for economic revival and renewal. As well as surveying the variety of contemporary situations, the text will provide readers with a firm grasp of the historical background to the topic. It explores issues such as:

employment and poverty
social policy and security
structural adjustment programs and neo-liberal globalization
majority rule and democratization
taxation and resource mobilization.
It contains a selection of country specific case studies from a range of international contributors, many of whom have lived and worked in Africa. The book will be of particular interest to higher level students in political economy, development studies, area studies (Africa) and economics in general.

Table of Contents
1. Introducing the African Economy Vishnu Padayachee and Keith Hart Part 1: African Political Economy in Overview 2. The African Tragedy: International and National Roots Peter Lawrence 3. The Social Context of African Economic Growth 1960-2008 Bill Freund 4. From the Political Economy of Development to Development Economics: Implications for Africa Ben Fine Part 2: Analytical Perspectives on Africa 5. Agro-Pessimism, Capitalism and Agrarian Change: Trajectories and Contradictions in Sub-Saharan Africa Carlos Oya 6. The Political Economy of Taxation and Resource Mobilisation in Sub-Saharan Africa Jonathan di John 7. Africa´s Revolving Door: External Borrowing and Capital Flight in Sub-Saharan Africa James Boyce and Leonce Ndikumana 8. The Political Economy of Social Policy and Social Security in Sub-Saharan Africa Stephen Devereux and Francie Lund 9. Aid, Development and the State in Africa Carlos Oya and Nicolas Pons-Vignon 10. Employment, Poverty and Inclusive Development in Africa: Policy Choices in the Context of Widespread Informality James Heintz 11. Street Trading in Africa: Demographic Trends, Planning and Trader Organization Caroline Skinner 12. Africa and the 'Second New Economy': How Can Africa Benefit from ICT's for a Sustainable Socio-Economic Development? Nicolas Pejout Part 3: African Case Studies 13. Agricultural Policy in Africa - Renewal or Status Quo? A Spotlight on Kenya and Senegal Ward Anseeuw 14. Liberalisation, State Intervention and the Demise of Industrial Development in Mozambique Alex Warren-Rodriquez 15. Local Democracy, Clientelism and the (Re)Politicization of Urban Governance in African Cities: Reflexions from Johannesburg Stories Claire Benit-Gbaffou 16. Many Conflicts, One Peace: The Congo Economy and Global Security Zoe Marriage 17. Mbimbos, Zvipamuzis and Primitive Accumulation in Zimbabwe's Violent Mineral Economy: Crisis, Chaos and the State David Moore and Showers Mawowa 18. Good Governance and Growth in Africa: What Can We Learn from Tanzania Hazel Gray and Mustaq Khan 19. Management of the CFA Franc in West Africa: From an Imposed Extroversion to Chosen Extroversion Kako Nubukpo Part 4: New Directions 20. Africa's Urban Revolution and the Informal Economy Keith Hart 21. Impacts and Challenges of a Growing Relationship between China and Sub-Saharan Africa Raphie Kaplinsky, Mike Morris and Dorothy McCormick 22. South Africa in Africa: From National Capitalism to Regional Integration Keith Hart and Vishnu Padayachee