Africa since Decolonization The History and Politics of a Diverse Continent

Home to more than 1.2 billion people, living in 54 recognized states, speaking around 3,000 languages, Africa is a diverse and complex continent made up of states which differ in regard to their colonial history, political system, socio-economic development, economic polices and their experience with crises and conflicts. This introduction and overview of African history and politics since decolonization emphasises throughout, the diversity of the continent. Organised thematically to include chapters on decolonization and its legacies, external influences, economics, political systems, inter-African relations, crises, conflicts and conflict management, and Africa's external relations, Martin Welz strikes a fine balance between the use of contextual information, analysis, case studies and examples with theoretical debates in development, politics and global policy. Accessible to students at all levels, it counters histories which offer reductive explanations of complex issues, and offers new insights into the role African actors have played in influencing international affairs beyond the continent.

1. From the Golden Age to Conquest and Colonization; 2. Liberation and Decolonization; 3. Decolonization's Legacies; 4. External Influences; 5. Africa's Economy, 1960–2000; 6. Economy, Socio-Economic Development, and Development Cooperation; 7. States, Political Systems, and Actors; 8. Intra-African Cooperation and Integration; 9. Political Crises; 10. Large-Scale Conflicts; 11. International Conflict Management; 12. African Actors Role in International Politics; Epilogue.

Martin Welz is Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Hamburg. He is the author of Integrating Africa: Decolonization's Legacies, Sovereignty and the African Union (2012) and numerous articles on conflict management in Africa, the relations between the African Union and the United Nations, Africa's role in the world, and on the impact of former liberation fighters.