Africa

The Politics of Suffering and Smiling

AvPatrick Chabal

Inbunden, Engelska, 2009

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Beskrivning

The question usually asked about Africa is: 'why is it going wrong?' Is the continent still suffering from the ravages of colonialism? Or is it the victim of postcolonial economic exploitation, poor governance and lack of aid? Whatever the answer, increasingly the result is poverty and violence.In Africa: The Politics of Suffering and Smiling Patrick Chabal approaches this question differently by reconsidering the role of theory in African politics. Chabal discusses the limitations of existing political theories of Africa and proposes a different starting point; arguing that political thinking ought to be driven by the need to address the immediacy of everyday life and death. How do people define who they are? Where do they belong? What do they believe? How do they struggle to survive and improve their lives? What is the impact of illness and poverty? In doing so, Chabal proposes a radically different way of looking at politics in Africa and illuminates the ways ordinary people 'suffer and smile'.This is a highly original addition to Zed's groundbreaking World Political Theories series.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2009-02-12
Mått:143 x 222 x 17 mm
Vikt:456 g
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Serie:World Political Theories
Antal sidor:224
Förlag:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
ISBN:9781842779088

Utforska kategorier

Politik och statsskick inom Samhälle och politik

Mer om författaren

Patrick Chabal was Professor at King's College London. He taught and researched in Africa, the USA and Europe. His publications include Cultures Troubles: Politics and the Interpretation of Meaning (2006); Africa Works: Disorder as a Political Instrument (1999); Power in Africa (1992 and 1994) and Amílcar Cabral: Revolutionary Leadership and People's War (2003).

Recensioner i media

'In this compassionate, elegantly written book Patrick Chabal argues that mainstream political science, political theory and economics fail to do justice to the complexities of African social life. In their place, he offers an interdisciplinary, interpretive approach that offers sensitive insights into contemporary political realities from the point of view of the people who suffer and strive through them.' Tim Kelsall, African Affairs 'This is an important rumination on those deeper aspects of African life that most political science finds too scary, or too complicated, to investigate. Chabal asks deadly simple questions about very complex matters.' John Lonsdale, University of Cambridge

Innehållsförteckning

PrefaceIntroduction1. The Politics of Being2. The Politics of Belonging3. The Politics of Believing4. The Politics of Partaking5. The Politics of Striving6. The Politics of Surviving7. The Politics of SufferingConclusionBibliographyIndex