'Meredith has given a spectacularly clear view of the African political jungle' – Spectator
'This book is hard to beat... Elegantly written as well as unerringly accurate' – Financial Times
The fortunes of Africa have changed dramatically since the independence era began in 1957. As Europe’s colonial powers withdrew, dozens of new states were born. Africa was a continent rich in mineral resources and its economic potential was immense. Yet, it soon struggled with corruption, violence and warfare, with few states managing to escape the downward spiral.
So what went wrong? In this riveting and authoritative account, Martin Meredith examines the myriad problems that Africa has faced, focusing upon key personalities, events and themes of the independence era. He brings his compelling analysis into the modern day, exploring Africa’s enduring struggles for democracy and the rising influence of China. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the continent’s plight and its hopes for a brighter future.
- 768 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
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Table of contents
- Cover
- Further praise for The State of Africa
- Title page
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Epigraph page
- Maps
- Author's Note
- Introduction
- PART I
- 1. The Gold Coast Experiment
- 2. Revolt on the Nile
- 3. Land of the Setting Sun
- 4. L'Afrique Noire
- 5. Winds of Change
- 6. Heart of Darkness
- 7. The White South
- PART II
- 8. The Birth of Nations
- 9. The First Dance of Freedom
- 10. Feet of Clay
- 11. A House Divided
- 12. Death of an Emperor
- 13. The Coming of Tyrants
- 14. In Search of Ujamaa
- 15. The Passing of the Old Guard
- 16. The Slippery Slope
- 17. The Great Plunderer
- 18. White Dominoes
- PART III
- 19. Red Tears
- 20. Fault Lines
- 21. The Scourge of Aids
- 22. The Lost Decade
- 23. The Struggle for Democracy
- 24. A Time of Triumph
- PART IV
- 25. In the Name of the Prophet
- 26. Black Hawk Down
- 27. The Graves are Not Yet Full
- 28. Where Vultures Fly
- 29. Blood Diamonds
- 30. No Condition is Permanent
- 31. The Honour of Living
- 32. Black Gold
- 33. A Degree in Violence
- 34. Somewhere Over the Rainbow
- 35. Out of Africa
- Chapter Notes
- Select Bibliography
- Index
- Plate 1
- Plate 2
- Plate 3
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Yes, you can access The State of Africa by Martin Meredith in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & African History. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.