
An Introduction to African Politics
Alex Thomson(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
3rd Edition
Published on 19. May 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
312 pages
978-0-415-48287-5 (ISBN)
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Description
The third edition of An Introduction to African Politics continues to be the ideal textbook for those new to the study of this fascinating continent. It gets to the heart of the politics of this part of the world, tackling questions such as: How is modern Africa still influenced by its colonial past? How do strong ethnic identities on the continent affect government? Why has the military been so influential? Why do African states have such difficulty managing their economies? How does African democracy differ from democracy in the West?
The result is a textbook that identifies the essential features of African politics, allowing students to grasp the recurring political patterns that have dominated this continent since independence.
Features and benefits of the third edition:
Thematically organised, with individual chapters exploring issues such as colonialism, ethnicity, nationalism, religion, social class, ideology, legitimacy, authority, sovereignty and democracy.
Identifies key recurrent themes such as the competitive relationships between the African state, its civil society and external interests.
Contains useful boxed case studies at the end of each chapter, including: Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Uganda, Somalia, Ghana, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe.
Each chapter concludes with key terms and definitions, as well as questions and advice on further reading.
Illustrated throughout with images of important political figures, and key moments in African history.
Important terms and concepts are explained in a clear and accessible manner and supported by contemporary examples.
This expanded, fully revised and updated edition remains the ideal gateway for students seeking to make sense of the dynamic and diverse political systems that are a feature of this fascinating part of the world.
The result is a textbook that identifies the essential features of African politics, allowing students to grasp the recurring political patterns that have dominated this continent since independence.
Features and benefits of the third edition:
Thematically organised, with individual chapters exploring issues such as colonialism, ethnicity, nationalism, religion, social class, ideology, legitimacy, authority, sovereignty and democracy.
Identifies key recurrent themes such as the competitive relationships between the African state, its civil society and external interests.
Contains useful boxed case studies at the end of each chapter, including: Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Uganda, Somalia, Ghana, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe.
Each chapter concludes with key terms and definitions, as well as questions and advice on further reading.
Illustrated throughout with images of important political figures, and key moments in African history.
Important terms and concepts are explained in a clear and accessible manner and supported by contemporary examples.
This expanded, fully revised and updated edition remains the ideal gateway for students seeking to make sense of the dynamic and diverse political systems that are a feature of this fascinating part of the world.
Reviews / Votes
'The diversity of African politics is further illustrated by the inclusion of detailed case studies of individual countries, accompanied by boxed summaries of the main point in each chapter. This is a textbook which is well-presented and user friendly.' - The Times"No student of Sub-Saharan African politics can afford to be without this text. It is, by a quite considerable degree, the best current work in the field" - Adrian Flint, University of Bristol, UK
Praise for the previous edition:
'This is an excellent book of great use for students. It represents a significant contribution to the study of politics in Africa.' - Jeff Haynes, London Metropolitan University, UK
More details
Edition
3rd New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
18 s/w Tabellen, 13 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder, 3 s/w Zeichnungen, 16 s/w Abbildungen
3 Line drawings, black and white; 13 Halftones, black and white; 18 Tables, black and white; 16 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 174 mm
Weight
612 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-415-48287-5 (9780415482875)
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
Other editions
New editions

Alex Thomson
An Introduction to African Politics
Book
12/2022
5th Edition
Routledge
€78.20
Shipment within 15-20 days

Alex Thomson
An Introduction to African Politics
Book
05/2016
4th Edition
Routledge
€68.27
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Additional editions

Alex Thomson
An Introduction to African Politics
Book
05/2010
3rd Edition
Routledge
€141.13
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Alex Thomson is a Principal Lecturer in Politics at Coventry University. His books include Constructive Engagement: US Foreign Policy Towards South Africa, 1981- 1988 (Ashgate, 1996), Get Set for Politics (with Keith Faulks and Ken Phillips, Edinburgh University Press, 2003), and U.S. Foreign Policy Towards Apartheid South Africa, 1948-1994: Conflict of Interests (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2008).
Content
1. Introduction: State, Civil Society and External Interests 2. History: Africa's Pre-Colonial and Colonial Inheritance 3. Ideology: Nationalism, Socialism, Populism and State Capitalism 4. Ethnicity and Religion: 'Tribes', Gods and Political Identity 5. Social Class: The Search for Class Politics in Africa 6. Legitimacy: Neo-Patrimonialism, Personal Rule and the Centralisation of the African State 7. Coercion: Military Intervention in African politics 8. Sovereignty I: External Influences on African politics 9. Sovereignty II: Neo-Colonialism, Structural Adjustment and Africa's Political Economy 10. Authority: The Crises of Accumulation, Governance and State Collapse 11. Democracy: Re-Legitimising the African State? 12. Conclusions: State and Civil Society in Post-Colonial Africa