Africa, Development and Public Policy

This book analyses various important aspects of methodology and substance regarding economic, social, and political policy in Africa directed toward achieving more effective, efficient, and equitable societal institutions. The chapters are authored by experts from within Africa and also from Africa research institutes elsewhere. The book combines practical policy significance with insightful causal and prescriptive generalizations. The emphasis is on the role of governmental decision making and the important (but secondary) role of the marketplace, social groups, and engineering. Specific sets of chapters deal with such important topics as: building policy analysis methods and capabilities, especially in Eastern and Southern Africa; economic policy, including the problems of privatization and entrepreneurship; social policy, including the problems of group relations in the transition from apartheid to democracy in South Africa; and technology policy, including natural resources management. The political policy material deals with relations between Islam and democracy, the transition from one-party rule to multipartism, military versus civilian rule, and the role of international assistance in African political reform.