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Peter M. Lewis. Growing Apart: Oil, Politics and Economic Change in Indonesia and Nigeria. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 2007, Interests, Identities, and Institutions in Comparative Politics series, xi + 345 pp. Tables. Figures. Notes. Bibliography. Index. $24.95. Paper.
At a time of heightened concern at the failure of some well-endowed countries to develop, this book presents a systematic comparative perspective on two resource-rich, oil-exporting countries: Nigeria and Indonesia. Drawing on two regionally pivotal states that commenced the "development journey" at approximately the same time and level, Peter Lewis examines the ways in which political factors, actors, and institutions have nurtured - but largely subverted - economic growth. From this analysis of the politics of economic development, Indonesia has recorded better economic growth over four decades, in part because of the regional context, governance, leadership, economic policies, and strategies.
Organized into nine chapters, the book differentiates Indonesia "distinguished by impressive accomplishments and abrupt decline" - from Nigeria - notable...