Intellectuals and African development : pretension and resistance in African politics

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Title:

Author:

Beckman, Bjèorn, 1938-

ISBN:

9781842777640

9781842777657

Publication Information:

Dakar, Senegal : CODESRIA ; London ; New York : In association with Zed Books ; Pretoria, South Africa : In association with UNISA Press ; New York : Distributed in the United States by Palgrave Macmillan, c2006.

Physical Description:

178 p. ; 22 cm.

Series:

Africa in the new millennium

Series Title:

Africa in the new millennium

Subject Term:

Political culture -- Africa.

International agencies -- Africa.

Politieke situatie.

Geographic Term:

Africa -- Politics and government -- 1960-

Africa -- Social conditions -- 1960-

Afrika.

Added Author:

Beckman, Bjèorn, 1938-

Adeoti, Gbemisola.

Added Corporate Author:

Codesria.

Electronic Access:

Contributor biographical information http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0702/2006032630-b.html
Publisher description http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0702/2006032630-d.html
Table of contents only http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0702/2006032630-t.html

Copies:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Copy	Status
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168020403263	320.96 B397.I 2006	1	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

This book looks at the very different responses to the African predicament from prominent writers like Soyinka, Ngugi and Achebe, to the military men in power and the students who defy repression. It suggests that intervention by international agencies who claim to promote 'democracy' and 'empower the youth' may reinforce authoritarian attitudes and structures.

The essays in the book give voice to the outrage, ridicule and revolutionary ardour, as well as to the reformist caution, of those directly affected. The shallow pretences of those in power and the hypocrisy and arrogance of the foreign helpers are also exposed.

The book concludes that being an 'insider' or an 'outsider' is less important than being committed to listening to ordinary people.