Ch. 1. A Pre-Colonial Overview. The Mane Invasions. Some Conclusions on Early Political Structures and Procedure. The Nineteenth Century Economy. European Explorers. The Founding of Freetown -- Ch. 2. The Colonial Experience. The Beginnings of the Krio Diaspora. Establishing a Protectorate in the Hinterland. The Aftermath of the Hut Tax War. An Undiversified Resource-Based Economy -- Ch. 3. Decolonization and the Making of the Post-Colonial State. The Krio on the Political Margins. The West African Youth League. Krio Elite Reaction to Constitutional Developments. The Path to Political Independence. Further Unrest in the Protectorate. Political Competition within the SLPP. Political Culture -- Ch. 4. Trends in Politics, Society, and Economy in the Post-Colonial State. Problems of Legitimacy and Ethnic Diversity. Power Consolidation and Ethnoregional Identities. Siaka Stevens Assumes Power. Economic Trends and Neopatrimonialism. External Dependence.

Ch. 5. Political Stagnation and Economic Decline. Economic Decline and External Economic Imperatives. Private Accumulation and Deepening Inequalities. Specific Aspects of Decline. Immediate Causes of Decline -- Ch. 6. Into the 1990s: Prospects for Reform. Momoh's Initiatives. The Spillover of the Liberian Conflict. The End of APC Rule. The May 1997 Coup d'Etat and the Consequent Crisis -- Ch. 7. Conclusion: Social change, Frustration, and Violence. Broader Reasons for the Coup, and External Reactions. The Sierra Leone State. The Issue of External Dependence.