The Failure of Leadership in Africa’s Development examines the dominant scholarly theories about the cause of Africa’s underdevelopment and argues that none of the traditionally invoked causes—an alleged black racial inferiority, the colonial and neo-colonial expropriation of Africa, purported natural defects in Africa’s geography—is plausible as the explanation of the main cause of the continent’s underdevelopment. Rather, the book argues that the chief cause of the continent’s lag is the failure of leadership of Africa’s ruling classes. This failure of leadership, the book shows, is most evident in the historically traceable indifference of a long succession of Africa’s ruling classes to the scientific and technological advances that were emerging from Europe and Asia during the most critical periods of Africa’s history. It was this indifference, the book argues, that set the stage for the subsequent conquest, expropriation, and technological stagnation of Africa. The book recommends a blueprint for the continent’s future development.
"Leadership failure reviews the natural resources deposit and its overflows in Africa. It brings to fore the faulty leadership structure, bad governance and sharp practices in politics, public service and government which have hindered the greatness of Africa. The book recalls the true picture of poverty, hardship, insecurity, conflicts, human right abuse and unemployment which corrupt-prone mentality has inflicted on Africa and her People. It explains in detail the accusation of the western world by our leaders for Africa's woes and backwardness and reveals the real collaborators of the plundering of Africa wealth after 50/60 years of self rule. It reminds African leaders and Africans that the backwardness of the continent is the effort of every Africans and challenges Africans to rebuke the enemies within so that Africa can be given a facelift in the comity of nations."--back cover.
Why Africans Fail to Lead gives specific principles that attempts to answer the difficult task of unraveling the fetters binding the majority of its 900 Million inhabitants. It discusses the need for home growing (from Africa) a strong value-based servant leadership, cast bold visions of the future and inculcate a culture of integrity. This book helps to create sensitivity and desire for leaders that serve humanity with all their hearts.
Economic growth does not demand a secret formula. Good development examples now abound in East Asia and further afield in others parts of Asia, and in Central America. But why then has Africa failed to realise its potential in half a century of independence? Why Africa is Poor demonstrates that Africa is poor not because the world has denied the continent the market and financial means to compete: far from it. It has not been because of aid per se. Nor is African poverty solely a consequence of poor infrastructure or trade access, or because the necessary development and technical expertise is unavailable internationally. Why then has the continent lagged behind other developing areas when its people work hard and the continent is blessed with abundant natural resources? Stomping across the continent and the developing world in search of the answer, Greg Mills controversially shows that the main reason why Africa's people are poor is because their leaders have made this choice.
"Leadership and Crime: Siamese Twins in Africa" is a work that examines the festering woes of Black Africa in the quality of leadership it has had across-the-board since the departure of European colonizers from its individual countries. Using Nigeria - the country with the highest population and the largest economy on the continent - as a case study, it identifies the respective areas of leadership failure by indigenous leader but not without highlighting the self-serving groundwork laid by departing colonizers to safeguard long-term strategic interests with zero thought of the future of the indigenes. The resultant impact of conflicts, dictatorship, and self-enrichment to the detriment of the vast, suffering masses is clearly showcased in this sober, matter-of-fact presentation.
Our Continent, Our Future presents the emerging African perspective on this complex issue. The authors use as background their own extensive experience and a collection of 30 individual studies, 25 of which were from African economists, to summarize this African perspective and articulate a path for the future. They underscore the need to be sensitive to each country's unique history and current condition. They argue for a broader policy agenda and for a much more active role for the state within what is largely a market economy. Finally, they stress that Africa must, and can, compete in an increasingly globalized world and, perhaps most importantly, that Africans must assume the leading role in defining the continent's development agenda.
Taxation was one of the most contentious aspects of British colonial rule in Africa, shaping relationships between Africans, colonial governments, and European settlers. This is the first detailed comparative study of both taxation and public spending in British colonies in Africa.
This book considers the new business environment of modern-day Africa, addressing how management styles must adapt to societal changes across the continent. As investment in the continent grows and African businesses begin to look beyond their own borders, there comes a real need to understand leadership from an Afro-centric perspective. This book explores the similarities and differences across African countries, compares them with other regions, and identifies particular cultural realities that managers must consider in order to be successful in the new business environment of modern Africa. Building on their Leadership Effectiveness in Africa and the African Diaspora (LEAD) research project, the authors provide an empirical understanding of African leadership styles and how businesses can harness these more effectively. Drawing on the African Diaspora’s values, beliefs, and preferences, as well as anecdotal material from African academics and managers, this book grants a realistic view of leadership in various African countries including Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Africa. It will be invaluable to academics, students, and anyone interested in African and global business leadership from a non-Western perspective.
Gerrie Swart, a lecturer in the Department of Political Sciences at the University of South Africa, (UNISA) is the the Guest Editor of this volume. Gerrie, who has been a frequent contributor to the journal in the last year and half, solicited, and ensured a timely delivery of all the articles in the lead theme in this edition. We are deeply grateful to him. In this issue, we focus on the quality of leadership in the continent, looking at the challenges, triumphs and trends. In his paper, Gerrie Swart, argues that any "mention of African leadership today regrettably always tends to conjure up the negative associations with Africa's so-called 'Big Men' and the ravages of dictatorship that has on frequent occasions laid waste to many African states' political and socio-economic stability." He contends that while there are instances to buttress such observations, it is also necessary "to evaluate the important initiatives, trends and responses that have emerged from the African continent to the challenges posed to, and by African leadership." He maintains that Africa's leadership crisis is in a state of flux and is actually moving towards "achieving stable, responsible and accountable leadership that the continent is in dire need of." Henning Melber and Roger Southall discuss continuity and change in Africa's leadership dynamics. In particular they discuss retired African presidents and their potential roles in African politics. Faten Aggad assesses the progress made so far with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), which was launched in 2003 with the purpose to "foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration through sharing of experiences and reinforcement of successful and best practice, including identifying deficiencies and assessing the needs for capacity building." Yolanda K. Spies examines the role of leadership in Africa's quest for the transformation of the Security Council of the United Nations and argues that there has been a manifest failure of leadership in that quest. He blames the African Union for understandably, but idealistically and unsuccessfully trying to foment a Common Position on Security Council reform. His position is that it is "time for a new strategy - not necessarily conceived as an AU project, but certainly as an African one, and leadership is required." Gilbert M. Khadiagala discusses the December 27, 2007 elections in Kenya and argues that the electoral malaise and the violent convulsion that gripped the country stemmed from the failure of Kenya's leaders to structure politics around solid institutions." Besides the articles in the lead theme we also brought together a number of other articles - from an interview with the legendary Professor Ali Mazrui on the occasion of his 75th birthday to an analysis of Olusegun Obasanjo in the popular imagination in Nigeria. African Renaissance becomes 4 years in June African Renaissance, which made its debut as a bi-monthly multidisciplinary journal in June 2004, turns four next years soon. The journal became a quarterly in 2007 and is now generally regarded as one of the most important, multidisciplinary independent journals on African politics and society. To take the journal to the next level, we will be inviting Guest Editors for various editions of the journal. The aim is to bring other intellectual ferments into the journal and ensure that issues and themes covered are not only those that appeal to me as the editor and publisher. Marcel Kitissou will be the Guest Editor for Volume 5 No.2 while Issaka Souare will be the Guest Editor for Volume 5 No 3. Both Kitissou and Souare have been very closely associated with the journal, from the time of its inception in 2004. For details, plse contact: [email protected]
