The African exception

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Title:

Author:

Olsen, Gorm Rye.

ISBN:

9780754636953

Publication Information:

Aldershot, Hants, England ; Burlington, VT : Ashgate, c2005.

Physical Description:

ix, 176 p. ; 24 cm.

Series:

Contemporary perspectives on developing societies

Series Title:

Contemporary perspectives on developing societies

Contents:

Introduction : the African exception : conceptual notes on governance in Africa in the new millennium / Ulf Engel and Gorm Rye Olsen -- 1. Power in Africa reconsidered / Patrick Chabal -- 2. Understanding public management through neopatrimonialism : a paradigm for all African seasons? / Ole Therkildsen -- 3. History, identity and collective action : difficulties of accountability / Tim Kelsall -- 4. The donors and the state in Africa : how much has changed? / Nicolas van de Walle -- 5. 'Under construction' : governance in Africa's new violent social spaces / Ulf Engel and Andreas Mehler -- 6. State responses to the AIDS pandemic / Nana K. Poku and Jane Freedman -- 7. Entrepreneurial urban governance and development in Africa : challenges, opportunities and lessons from South Africa / Scarlett Cornelissen -- Conclusion / Ulf Engel and Gorm Rye Olsen.

Abstract:

"This volume debates whether knowledge of the new challenges facing Africa and guided interpretations of their nature will be crucial for linking the revised conventional wisdom of today and what might become tomorrow's new received wisdom." "The contributors explore the four key dimensions of the conventional wisdom: the exercise of power, agrarian change, economic fundamentals, and international development aid. New interpretations of the challenged wisdom and viable alternatives to mainstream representation are offered. The second section discusses five new challenges that Africa has to face in the first part of the 21st century: conflict prevention and peace-building, biodiversity, aids/HIV, economies of crime, and belief systems." "The volume will be particularly suitable for graduate levels and above in African politics, sociology, conflict and peace studies, comparative politics and development studies."--BOOK JACKET.

Subject Term:

Economic development -- Political aspects -- Africa.

Geographic Term:

Africa -- Politics and government -- 1960-

Added Author:

Olsen, Gorm Rye.

Engel, Ulf.

Electronic Access:

Table of contents http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip053/2004027021.html

Copies:

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Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Copy	Status
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168020369050	320.96 E57A 2005	1	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

Governance has become an important concept in the politics of African development. It is therefore a crucial concept for social science analyses focusing on Africa. In public discourse Africa's future is being shaped by a combination of external interventions backed by African elites who cooperate with the donors, whose understanding of the importance of 'good governance' they share. This groundbreaking book disentangles the analytical aspects of governance from its political and normative connotations. The 'African exception' - the difference in 'development' between Africa and other regions of the South - can be understood by analysis focusing upon the specific forms of governance played out in politics and economics. The perspective of neo-patrimonialism is crucial but not sufficient here.