Politics in southern Africa : state and society in transition /

This ambitious, challenging book follows a refreshing and straightforward methodology, organizing fundamental themes and concepts about Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, systematically interpreting their common denominators as well as analyzing each country's unique features. Equally important, the authors focus on three issues that affect the region: the AIDS crisis especially as it relates to causes, consequences, treatment and care; the historical role of women and the significance of their contribution to socioeconomic development; and international relations, with special attention to questions of how globalization and Zimbabwe's decline affect the region. While the authors reject the Afropessimists' approach, they nevertheless offer an evolutionary and indeed cautious approach to the future of political development in Southern Africa. Scholars will appreciate its comprehensive approach; faculty seeking a useful but demanding text for their students will welcome it; and Africanists will appreciate its supportive evidence, e.g., the extensive bibliography, informative glossary, country data and chronologies, and useful index. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. M. E. Doro emerita, Connecticut College