Economic and Political Reform in Africa

What are the local effects of major economic and political reforms in Africa? How have globalized pro-market and pro-democracy reforms impacted local economics and communities? Examining case studies from The Gambia Ghana Mozambique Kenya Ethiopia and Somalia Peter D. Little shows how rural farmers and others respond to complex agendas of governments development agencies and non-governmental organizations. The book explores the contradictions between what policy reforms were supposed to do and what actually happened in local communities. Little’s bold vision of development challenges common narratives of African poverty dependency and environmental degradation and suggests that sustainable development in Africa can best be achieved by strengthening local livelihoods markets and institutions.