African Development: Making Sense of the Issues and Actors

ECONOMICS AND DEVELOPMENT Todd J. Moss. African Development: Making Sense of the Issues and Actors. Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Rienner, 2007. xi + 275 pp. Figures. Tables. Bibliography. Index. Notes. $55.00. Cloth. $22.50. Paper.

In the 1960s, when many African countries achieved their independence, most of their leaders aspired to apply the best in their own traditions of governance-for example, African socialism-to develop their countries. While five decades have elapsed since then, African development has been disappointing, and the majority of the continent's growing population still lives in absolute poverty. This book provides "some basic background information, an analysis of the trends, and an explanation of the contemporary issues, actors, and institutions" of contemporary Africa (14). Moss gives an overall picture of the continent in terms of "what we know" and "ought to know" when studying African development.

The book is divided into four main parts. Chapter 1 gives an introduction...