African development : making sense of the issues and actors Introduction The complexities and uncertainties of development The domestic context History and the legacy of colonialism Big men personal rule and patronage politics Violent conflict and civil war Political change and democratization Core development questions Africas slow growth puzzle Economic reform and the politics of adjustment The international aid system Debt burdens and debt relief Poverty and human development Regionalism and globalization Regional institutions and NEPAD Africa and world trade Private investment and the business environment Conclusion