John James Quinn is professor of political science at Truman State University.

This well-documented, thought-provoking book represents an excellent synthesis of trends in African politics and economics since the era of independence to the present. Quinn links changes in sub-Saharan states to global shifts, notably the post–WW II rush of decolonization and post–Cold War moves toward greater liberalization. The first period ranged from Ghana’s 1957 independence to the post–1965 wave of military coups. During this period, international power shifted from multipolarity, in which France and Great Britain were major players, to US–USSR bipolarity. The second period started around 1989 and continued to about 1996, with American global preeminence, the partial decay of single party–dominant systems, and the facade of competitive elections in Africa. Quinn’s greatest contribution comes through integrating historical events with changed economic theories and centers of power. He demonstrates statistical links between higher levels of civil and political rights and state ownership of non-oil and non-mineral industries. Quinn concludes that since the Cold War, the “outward appearance” of African political and economic institutions shifted somewhat. Reforms were carried out largely to satisfy donors. To institutionalize “real” democratic competition, however, repeated competitive elections with established procedures are essential. Africa’s “new road … seems to be one of emerging capitalism with weakly institutionalized electoral regimes, with usually one dominant political party.” Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students and faculty.

• Chapter 1: Geopolitics, International Relations, and sub-Saharan AfricaChapter 2: The First International Geopolitical Shift: African Decolonization in International and Regional ContextsChapter 3: The Consolidation of Political Power in Africa: The Rise of One- and No-party StatesChapter 4: The Consolidation of Economic Power in Africa: Inward-Oriented Development and Majority State Ownership Chapter 5: The Second Geopolitical Shift: African Political and Economic Reforms in International and Regional ContextsChapter 6: The Partial Decentralization of Political Power in Africa: Limited Multiparty Competition and Rising Civil SocietyChapter 7: The Partial Fragmentation of Economic Power in Africa: The Liberalization of Economic Policies and Partial PrivatizationChapter 8: Prior Majority State Ownership, Geopolitical Shifts, and Later Political Liberalization in Africa: A Statistical Analysis Chapter 9: Conclusions: When Elephants Fight

John James Quinn is professor of political science at Truman State University.

This well-documented, thought-provoking book represents an excellent synthesis of trends in African politics and economics since the era of independence to the present. Quinn links changes in sub-Saharan states to global shifts, notably the post–WW II rush of decolonization and post–Cold War moves toward greater liberalization. The first period ranged from Ghana’s 1957 independence to the post–1965 wave of military coups. During this period, international power shifted from multipolarity, in which France and Great Britain were major players, to US–USSR bipolarity. The second period started around 1989 and continued to about 1996, with American global preeminence, the partial decay of single party–dominant systems, and the facade of competitive elections in Africa. Quinn’s greatest contribution comes through integrating historical events with changed economic theories and centers of power. He demonstrates statistical links between higher levels of civil and political rights and state ownership of non-oil and non-mineral industries. Quinn concludes that since the Cold War, the “outward appearance” of African political and economic institutions shifted somewhat. Reforms were carried out largely to satisfy donors. To institutionalize “real” democratic competition, however, repeated competitive elections with established procedures are essential. Africa’s “new road … seems to be one of emerging capitalism with weakly institutionalized electoral regimes, with usually one dominant political party.” Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students and faculty.

• Chapter 1: Geopolitics, International Relations, and sub-Saharan AfricaChapter 2: The First International Geopolitical Shift: African Decolonization in International and Regional ContextsChapter 3: The Consolidation of Political Power in Africa: The Rise of One- and No-party StatesChapter 4: The Consolidation of Economic Power in Africa: Inward-Oriented Development and Majority State Ownership Chapter 5: The Second Geopolitical Shift: African Political and Economic Reforms in International and Regional ContextsChapter 6: The Partial Decentralization of Political Power in Africa: Limited Multiparty Competition and Rising Civil SocietyChapter 7: The Partial Fragmentation of Economic Power in Africa: The Liberalization of Economic Policies and Partial PrivatizationChapter 8: Prior Majority State Ownership, Geopolitical Shifts, and Later Political Liberalization in Africa: A Statistical Analysis Chapter 9: Conclusions: When Elephants Fight

John James Quinn is professor of political science at Truman State University.

This well-documented, thought-provoking book represents an excellent synthesis of trends in African politics and economics since the era of independence to the present. Quinn links changes in sub-Saharan states to global shifts, notably the post–WW II rush of decolonization and post–Cold War moves toward greater liberalization. The first period ranged from Ghana’s 1957 independence to the post–1965 wave of military coups. During this period, international power shifted from multipolarity, in which France and Great Britain were major players, to US–USSR bipolarity. The second period started around 1989 and continued to about 1996, with American global preeminence, the partial decay of single party–dominant systems, and the facade of competitive elections in Africa. Quinn’s greatest contribution comes through integrating historical events with changed economic theories and centers of power. He demonstrates statistical links between higher levels of civil and political rights and state ownership of non-oil and non-mineral industries. Quinn concludes that since the Cold War, the “outward appearance” of African political and economic institutions shifted somewhat. Reforms were carried out largely to satisfy donors. To institutionalize “real” democratic competition, however, repeated competitive elections with established procedures are essential. Africa’s “new road … seems to be one of emerging capitalism with weakly institutionalized electoral regimes, with usually one dominant political party.” Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students and faculty.

• Chapter 1: Geopolitics, International Relations, and sub-Saharan AfricaChapter 2: The First International Geopolitical Shift: African Decolonization in International and Regional ContextsChapter 3: The Consolidation of Political Power in Africa: The Rise of One- and No-party StatesChapter 4: The Consolidation of Economic Power in Africa: Inward-Oriented Development and Majority State Ownership Chapter 5: The Second Geopolitical Shift: African Political and Economic Reforms in International and Regional ContextsChapter 6: The Partial Decentralization of Political Power in Africa: Limited Multiparty Competition and Rising Civil SocietyChapter 7: The Partial Fragmentation of Economic Power in Africa: The Liberalization of Economic Policies and Partial PrivatizationChapter 8: Prior Majority State Ownership, Geopolitical Shifts, and Later Political Liberalization in Africa: A Statistical Analysis Chapter 9: Conclusions: When Elephants Fight