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The State of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence
by: Martin Meredith

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Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780743232227
ISBN: 0743232224
Label: Free Press
Manufacturer: Free Press
Number Of Pages: 768
Publication Date: April 03, 2006
Publisher: Free Press
Studio: Free Press
Sales Rank: 1732

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- Excellent, but strengths contribute to it's weaknesses....
A fantastic book to serve as an introduction to the complex issue of Africa post World War 2. What makes it such a great book is how straightforward and easy to read it is. However this proves to be it's weakness at times as well, as often it feels like certain issues, in particular economic analysis feels like it is being brushed over in order to make the book easier to read.

Which is a harsh critique, but I cannot pay the book any more of a compliment then stating how much of an eye opener the book was and how it has asked many questions, questions I seek to answer by reading more books about topics covered in the text.

Rating:

- A Must Read!
I read this book earlier this year, and it is a must read for all people interested in African Politics in the past 50 years. I recomend it especially for the younger generation who want to know about a politics in a continent that so much as happened on from decolonization to war, famine, greed, hate but also progress.
It covers all the different parts of africa, the challenges that african countries posessed, the leaders that failed and succeded, the power of the armies in african politics and the subsequent result of all these actions.
It is important to read about all the different countries, the different individuals and political leaders and parties, the ideology of all these differen't leaders and their parties and the impact ... Read More:

Rating:

- Extremely well-written recent history that makes you sad and mad
In only 688 pages Martin Meredith succeeds in capturing the recent history of more or less the whole of (sub-Saharan) Africa, throwing in a few countries above the Sahara for good measure. After a brief introduction, he starts off at independence of most countries, and what you read does not make you happy. With only very few exception new rulers with initially good intentions turn within no-time into greedy, ruthless killers that divide the loot (read "the treasury"and "the natural resources of their countries") among themselves, their close familiy, their tribe and their cronies. When things get too obvious, a military coup follows, after which the new leaders do exactly the same. And in the meantime the common people suffer, be it from the lawlessness ... Read More:

Rating:

- The State Of Africa
'The State if Africa' is an extremely detailed account of African politics in the last 50 years. It looks at the whole continent in a roughly chronological order and has some wonderful photo plates to illustrate the various 'dictators' and issues explored. I found some chapters more engaging than others and these provided explanation of key events in good detail to provide an in-depth understanding. Other chapters sadly were bogged down in acronyms and detail that only true African scholars would find of interest (hence the 4 stars). Overall, this is a well researched and presented introduction to post independence Africa that sadly leaves you feeling not a great deal has changed and that this is a continent left ravaged by tyranny and corruption. Not ... Read More:

Rating:

- The tragedy that is Africa
There was no shortage of information in this well researched book but more analysis of the unfolding situation would have been helpful. I'm glad i read it and i would recommend it as an important document establishing the details of the tragedy that is Africa. However, it raises many more questions than it answers.

Books : The State of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence