Neo-Colonialism and the Poverty of 'Development' in Africa - (Contemporary African Political Economy) by Mark Langan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Langan reclaims neo-colonialism as an analytical force for making sense of the failure of 'development' strategies in many African states in an era of free market globalisation. Eschewing polemics and critically engaging the work of Ghana's first President - Kwame Nkrumah - the book offers a rigorous assessment of the concept of neo-colonialism. It then demonstrates how neo-colonialism remains an impediment to genuine empirical sovereignty and poverty reduction in Africa today. It does this through examination of corporate interventions; Western aid-giving; the emergence of 'new' donors such as China; EU-Africa trade regimes; the securitisation of development; and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Throughout the chapters, it becomes clear that the current challenges of African development cannot be solely pinned on so-called neo-patrimonial elites. Instead it becomes imperative to fully acknowledge, and interrogate, corporate and donor interventions which lock many poorer countriesinto neo-colonial patterns of trade and production. The book provides an original contribution to studies of African political economy, demonstrating the on-going relevance of the concept of neo-colonialism, and reclaiming it for scholarly analysis in a global era.

From the Back Cover

This monograph reclaims neo-colonialism as an analytical force for making sense of poverty and the failure of 'development' strategies within many African states in an era of free market globalisation. Eschewing polemics and weaving three country case studies throughout each chapter (Ghana, Uganda and Zambia), the book offers a rigorous assessment of the origins of 'neo-colonialism' as a Marxian concept; provides an examination of two main varieties of neo-colonial intervention in the Africa state and highlights the complicity of certain African elites in perpetuating neo-colonial relations; examines some of the policy outcomes of both varieties of neo-colonialism; and last but not least examines the broader social and environmental consequences of neo-colonialism. The book provides an original contribution to studies of African political economy, demonstrating the on-going relevance of the concept of neo-colonialism, and reclaiming it for scholarly analysis in a global era.

About the Author

Mark Langan is Lecturer in International Politics at Newcastle University, UK.