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About this book
How can African countries escape from marginalization, deepening impoverishment and state disintegration in the new era of globalization? The author of this book explores a way beyond the simple state-led versus market-driven approaches to Africa's development. He argues that the international financial institutions must stop their own development and that 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. Cheru contends how these options would require commonsense and non-dogmatic approaches; a new generation committed to a new kind of politics; and to synergy between the opportunities of the global economy and rebuilding Africa's economies.
Contents
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 Bibliography Index
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Biography
Professor FANTU CHERU is at the School of International Service, The American University, Washington DC. Ethiopian by birth, he is a specialist in policy analysis, rural development and urban and regional planning. His many publications include the best-selling The Silent Revolution in Africa (Zed Books, 1989)
By: Fantu Cheru
304 pages
'A timely contribution to the debate on Africa's future in the age of globalization. In this penetrating analysis, Fantu 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. This book is a must read for African policymakers, civil society leaders, and donor organizations.' - Carlos Lopes, Deputy Assistant Administrator, 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, Executive Secretary and Assistant Secretary-General United Nations Economic Commission for Africa 'Dr. 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 Critical acclaim for 'The Silent Revolution in Africa' 'This book represents the most authoritative dissection to date of the dominant development model which the World Bank and the IMD are forcing down the throats of 'Africa's starving majority. Beyond Fantu Cheru's brilliant critique, he offers pointers to a more dignified and democratic alternative.' - John Cavanagh, Director, World Economy Project Institute for Policy Studies, Washington DC 'From a product of rural Africa comes a passionate indictment of yet another round of Northern imposition of development models on the people of Africa.' - Doug Hellinger, Co-director, The Development GAP, Washington DC 'A refreshing open criticism and an alternative to the neo-liberal understanding of African economies and the IMF/World Bank prescriptions for development.' - Professor Siegfried Pausewang, Christian Michelsen Institute, Norway