num_pages: 306
description: This book explains why African countries have remained mired in a disastrous economic crisis since the late 1970s. It shows that dynamics internal to African state structures largely explain this failure to overcome economic difficulties rather than external pressures on these same structures as is often argued. Far from being prevented from undertaking reforms by societal interest and pressure groups, clientelism within the state elite, ideological factors and low state capacity have resulted in some limited reform, but much prevarication and manipulation of the reform process, by governments that do not really believe that reform will be effective.
language: English
title: African Economies and the Politics of Permanent Crisis, 1979-1999
titlecomplete: African Economies and the Politics of Permanent Crisis, 1979-1999
genres: Nonfiction, Economics, Africa, Politics
ratings_count: 41
series: Political Economy of Institutions and Decisions
awards: awardedAt: 1009872000000
name: APSA Luebbert Best Book Award
publisher: Cambridge University Press