Politics of Transition in Africa

Giles Mohan is a lecturer at the Open University. Tunde Zack-Williams is Professor in Sociology in the Department of Education and Social Science, University of Central Lancashire.

• Introduction: the theories of the state/the state of theories - The unsteady state: Uganda, Obote and General Amin by John S. Saul - The 'overdeveloped' post-colonial state: a re-evaluation by Colin Leys - Imperialism and capitalist transformation: critique of a Kenyan debate by Bj�rn Beckman - Political graft and the spoils system in Zambia: the state as a resource in itself by Morris Szeftel - The military state and Ethiopia's path to 'socialism' by John Markakis - Warlords and militarism in Chad by Roger Charlton and Roy May - 'Transition politics' and the challenge of gender in Nigeria by Hussaina Abdullah - No shortcuts to democracy: the long march towards modernity by Jean Copans - The crisis of the nation-state in Africa by Basil Davidson and Barry Munslow - Structural adjustment and the political question by Yusuf Bangura - Who needs civil society? by Chris Allen - Glossary.

This book is a welcome addition to teaching materials on African politics. It brings together a distinctive approach to African politics, which clearly remains extremely relevant to the present-day. Those who teach African politics will be able to find chapters in the book that will be most useful for students in undergraduate courses.