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Review
'This is clearly a fabulous study - perhaps the best, most incisive, and most comprehensive treatment of African history and politics that I have seen.' - Joshua Forrest, University of Vermont, USA
'This is an impressive book. Those who know little of modern African history - start here! And those who have read everything before this publication, add this to your collection.' - Bruce Baker, Democratization
'Nugent's book is easily the best single-volume history of postcolonial Africa written in the last 20 years.' - Nicolas Van De Walle, Foreign Affairs
'Writing the history of continents is difficult...Nonetheless, it is possible to provide a comprehensive single-volume view of short period of continental African history. David Nugent's Africa Since Independence deals excellently with the problem by taking a thematic approach in which the main features of African history are considered within a broadly chronological structure. Although it is a scholarly work that addresses the arguments of other authorities, it also provides a clear narrative account of African experience that is interesting to informed general readers.' - Times Higher Education Supplement
'This is comparitive history as it ought to be written: thematic, wide-ranging, scholarly and full of insights'. - Alan Cousins, History
'It is the success in narrating these complex varied historical and cultural inheritances, as well as the subtle forms of foreign intervention that have influenced events in Africa since independence, that makes this book a valued resource for students and the general reader...few will resist the urge to read it from cover to cover. - Ukoha Ukiwo, African History
'This is an impressive book. Those who know little of modern African history - start here! And those who have read everything before this publication, add this to your collection.' - Bruce Baker, Democratization
'Nugent's book is easily the best single-volume history of postcolonial Africa written in the last 20 years.' - Nicolas Van De Walle, Foreign Affairs
'Writing the history of continents is difficult...Nonetheless, it is possible to provide a comprehensive single-volume view of short period of continental African history. David Nugent's Africa Since Independence deals excellently with the problem by taking a thematic approach in which the main features of African history are considered within a broadly chronological structure. Although it is a scholarly work that addresses the arguments of other authorities, it also provides a clear narrative account of African experience that is interesting to informed general readers.' - Times Higher Education Supplement
'This is comparitive history as it ought to be written: thematic, wide-ranging, scholarly and full of insights'. - Alan Cousins, History
'It is the success in narrating these complex varied historical and cultural inheritances, as well as the subtle forms of foreign intervention that have influenced events in Africa since independence, that makes this book a valued resource for students and the general reader...few will resist the urge to read it from cover to cover. - Ukoha Ukiwo, African History
Product Description
Africans have achieved their independence through very different means. While the former French colonies and most of the British ones reached an accord with the European power concerned, the Portuguese colonies, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa achieved their liberation after protracted wars and internal political struggles.
In this genuinely comparative study, Paul Nugent explores the different trajectories and experiences of independent African states. Following the independence of the Sudan and Ghana in 1956-7, Africans have been engaged in efforts to fashion a workable political and economic dispensation for the post-colonial era. Nugent examines the record of African Socialist, Afro-Marxist and self-professed Capitalist regimes over the first two decades, and compares the record of military and civilian regimes in implementing their preferred development paths. Subsequent chapters explore the retrenchment associated with structural adjustment, as well as the record of multi-partyism after 1989. Africa since Independence also addresses the impact of HIV and AIDS, the contagion of warfare and efforts at achieving national reconciliation, both in the past and at the start of the new millennium.
In this genuinely comparative study, Paul Nugent explores the different trajectories and experiences of independent African states. Following the independence of the Sudan and Ghana in 1956-7, Africans have been engaged in efforts to fashion a workable political and economic dispensation for the post-colonial era. Nugent examines the record of African Socialist, Afro-Marxist and self-professed Capitalist regimes over the first two decades, and compares the record of military and civilian regimes in implementing their preferred development paths. Subsequent chapters explore the retrenchment associated with structural adjustment, as well as the record of multi-partyism after 1989. Africa since Independence also addresses the impact of HIV and AIDS, the contagion of warfare and efforts at achieving national reconciliation, both in the past and at the start of the new millennium.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Nugent's comparative framework is very helpful as it allows his text to provide a clear overview at an all-Africa level while also giving space to depth local analysis. A strength of this history rests in its scope as cultural and social comment is located within discussions of political or economic history. During the opening sections of 'Africa Since Independence' Nugent also provides a stimulating survey of theoretical and historiogaphical debates, hence bringing his analysis into dialogues with debates raised by postcolonial, developement or globalization theories.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a fantastic history of Africa. However, there are some things to bear in mind before buying / reading that are worth highlighting:
Nugent himself admits that the book is probably better used in small doses, for dipping in and out when information on a particular issue is wanted. To read from cover to cover is quite a heavy effort; I only did this as it was a recommended summary text for a course on Postcolonial Africa. The density of the information makes this quite dry and in certain instances, he assumes a certain level of knowledge - in other words extending a narrative, rather than building it up from rock bottom.
In saying that, throughout the course of the book, he charts the histories of a vast array of different African countries from the colonial period, through the struggle of independence, to the present day (2003-ish). As well as documenting the individual stories of countries, he analyses by theme as well so the reader can approach the text looking for country-specific information, or concept-specific content (i.e. liberal democracy, socialism, military rule and so on).
As with many histories of Africa, it is quite date and name heavy; ironically, one of the chapters talks of the 'invasion of the acronyms'; as much as this can be applied to NGOs, SAPs and the like, it could also be applied to African history texts. This book does not change that theme. In a couple of instances, pages are so covered in abbreviated party names that it is very easy to lose the thread of what is going on, especially when there are a few clear misprints. At a very picky level, there are quite a few niggly printing errors but not so many as to become completely annoying.
All in all, it is a thoroughly comprehensive and engaging, if challenging, text. An excellent resource for study and consolidating / expanding learning; it is probably not a good text if the reader seeks a general, light overview or introduction to African history. There is also a new edition due for release in June 2012, which will no doubt include useful updates (at one point, he talks of South Sudanese succession seeming more distant than ever (!)).
Nugent himself admits that the book is probably better used in small doses, for dipping in and out when information on a particular issue is wanted. To read from cover to cover is quite a heavy effort; I only did this as it was a recommended summary text for a course on Postcolonial Africa. The density of the information makes this quite dry and in certain instances, he assumes a certain level of knowledge - in other words extending a narrative, rather than building it up from rock bottom.
In saying that, throughout the course of the book, he charts the histories of a vast array of different African countries from the colonial period, through the struggle of independence, to the present day (2003-ish). As well as documenting the individual stories of countries, he analyses by theme as well so the reader can approach the text looking for country-specific information, or concept-specific content (i.e. liberal democracy, socialism, military rule and so on).
As with many histories of Africa, it is quite date and name heavy; ironically, one of the chapters talks of the 'invasion of the acronyms'; as much as this can be applied to NGOs, SAPs and the like, it could also be applied to African history texts. This book does not change that theme. In a couple of instances, pages are so covered in abbreviated party names that it is very easy to lose the thread of what is going on, especially when there are a few clear misprints. At a very picky level, there are quite a few niggly printing errors but not so many as to become completely annoying.
All in all, it is a thoroughly comprehensive and engaging, if challenging, text. An excellent resource for study and consolidating / expanding learning; it is probably not a good text if the reader seeks a general, light overview or introduction to African history. There is also a new edition due for release in June 2012, which will no doubt include useful updates (at one point, he talks of South Sudanese succession seeming more distant than ever (!)).
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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1 review
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Achieving the Impossible: A Successful African History Survey
29 Aug 2005
Format:Paperback
Paul Nugent has written one of the most impressive single-volume texts on African history--with a good chance that it is the best. This book reads smoothly while covering a vast continental terrain, including north Africa; and explores issues, questions, episodes in great depth. Nugent is able to handle complexity without drowning the reader in it. Perhaps, though, the most impressive aspect of this volume is Nugent's careful judgment. He also offers new themes to consider. For maps, charts, statistics, lists, the book is also excellent. It took a long time for this to be produced says the author. It was time well-spent. From the 1950s to now, Africa has never been treated better. The book is fresh.
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