3 Review(s)

This is the third in CARAD's publication series on Strategic Policy Studies on State, Democracy Governance and Management. The second series is on "State-Building and Democracy in Africa: A Comparative and Development Approach". These series seek to contribute to the ongoing debate on Democratisation, Governance and Development since the collapse of the Communist System and Africa's Lost Decades of the 1980s. The subject of a 'developmental state and the challenges of governance' remains topical, and is hoped the views expressed here puts the various issues firmly at the centre of the debate, calling for transparency, social justice, the rule of law and accountability agenda that sows the seeds of a genuine renewal of state and society's role in embodying and shaping democracy on the African continent. There is need for building capacities for sustainable development to bring Africa in line with global development. There are 21 chapters in all, excluding conclusions. Each chapter begins with an abstract and ends with recommendations. Needless to repeat these chapters here as the contents pages present a complete overview of the issues discussed. We need to look forward to a brave New Africa by taking advantage of the 'latecomer'' phenomenon and consciously navigate the way for a better future. In nutshell, the book deals with a wide variety of issues that could be categorised under the context of nationalism, national integration, development plans, sense of direction, the role and purpose of the state. The sum total of the various sections is that it examines various ways in which contemporary political and social forces interact in establishing common grounds for the emergence of modern states in Africa.