African Renaissance
Roadmaps to the Challenge of Globalization
Published on 1. June 2002
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-84277-087-0 (ISBN)
Description
How can African countries escape from marginalization, deepening impoverishment and state disintegration in the new era of globalization? Fantu Cheru draws on his experience of many different countries to argue for a way beyond the simple state-led versus market-driven approaches to Africa's development. The international financial institutions must stop their heavy handed interventions and let countries decide their own development paths. African countries must work within the reality of globalization to renew democracy and improve governance; invest in education; revitalize agriculture, manage their cities, strengthen regional economic integration, and prevent yet more deadly conflicts. These require commonsense and non-dogmatic approaches, learning from local successes, entrepreneurship, and a new generation committed to a new kind of politics.
Reviews / Votes
'A timely contribution to the debate on Africa's future in the age of globalization. In this penetrating analysis, Cheru analyzes Africa's marginal position in the new global hierarchy and then proceeds to offer important but pragmatic pointers that African governments, in consultation with their populations, must undertake to navigate successfully the cold currents of globalization. A must read for African policymakers, civil society leaders, and donor organizations.'Carlos Lopes, Bureau of Development Policy, United Nations Development Programme
'Globalization, with its contradictory tendencies, poses a great challenge to the African continent. Despite gloomy predictions about Africa's future, however, Cheru argues that globalization can offer great opportunity for the continent, but only if African leaders are prepared to manage it carefully and with greater concern for empowering the poor. Africa can and must compete in a rapidly changing global economy. But this will require fundamental change in African attitude, institutional arrangement, orientation to governance and economic management-a conclusion broadly in line with UNECA's Compact for African Development.'
K.Y. Amoako, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
'Cheru's roadmaps' provide an insightful evaluation of Africa's political and economic points of origin, as well as its' desired Renaissance destination. Most importantly, it offers clear directions for fellow travellers joining the fight against global apartheid!'
Salih Booker, executive director, Africa Action
'A welcome addition to the discussion on development in Africa ... a good book for development studies scholars'
Valentine James, Journal of Sustainable Development
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
388 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84277-087-0 (9781842770870)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Fantu Cheru is a professor at the School of International Service, The American University, Washington DC. Ethiopian by birth, Dr Cheru is a specialist in policy analysis, rural development and urban and regional planning. He has acted as a consultant to a wide range of institutions including UN agencies - the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) - as well as various development agencies including SIDA and DANIDA. His research and consultancy activity has enabled him to spend periods of time in a wide range of African countries.
Content
1. Africa and the Globalization Challenge
2. Renewing and Restoring Democracy in Africa: A Herculean Task
3. Reforming African Education for the Twenty-first Century
4. Agriculture and Rural Development
5. Rethinking Regional Economic Integration: From Rhetoric to Reality
6. The Urban-Rural Interface: Managing Fast Growing Cities in Africa
7. Rebuilding War-torn Societies and Preventing Deadly Conflicts
8. Concluding Remarks: A Wake-up Call to Fellow Africans
2. Renewing and Restoring Democracy in Africa: A Herculean Task
3. Reforming African Education for the Twenty-first Century
4. Agriculture and Rural Development
5. Rethinking Regional Economic Integration: From Rhetoric to Reality
6. The Urban-Rural Interface: Managing Fast Growing Cities in Africa
7. Rebuilding War-torn Societies and Preventing Deadly Conflicts
8. Concluding Remarks: A Wake-up Call to Fellow Africans