Africa

Patrick Chabal was Professor at King's College London. He taught and researched in Africa, the USA and Europe. His publications include Cultures Troubles: Politics and the Interpretation of Meaning (2006); Africa Works: Disorder as a Political Instrument (1999); Power in Africa (1992 and 1994) and Amílcar Cabral: Revolutionary Leadership and People's War (2003).

• PrefaceIntroduction1. The Politics of Being2. The Politics of Belonging3. The Politics of Believing4. The Politics of Partaking5. The Politics of Striving6. The Politics of Surviving7. The Politics of SufferingConclusionBibliographyIndex

'In this compassionate, elegantly written book Patrick Chabal argues that mainstream political science, political theory and economics fail to do justice to the complexities of African social life. In their place, he offers an interdisciplinary, interpretive approach that offers sensitive insights into contemporary political realities from the point of view of the people who suffer and strive through them.' Tim Kelsall, African Affairs 'This is an important rumination on those deeper aspects of African life that most political science finds too scary, or too complicated, to investigate. Chabal asks deadly simple questions about very complex matters.' John Lonsdale, University of Cambridge