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?This compulsively readable and accessible book is a masterpiece of clear thinking, comprehensiveness, balance, insight, and humor. It will meet the needs of all those who want to know more about Africa's mixture of disappointment and promise.? ?William Easterly, New York University?An excellent and much-needed volume that brilliantly manages to make complex issues clear.... Balanced and honest, it will help students distinguish between the hype, the myths, and the realities of many topics of concern to Africans and Africanists.? ?Pierre Englebert, Pomona CollegeIn the ongoing battle against global poverty, the countries of Africa continue to present the greatest challenge. African Development offers a comprehensive introduction to these challenges as they are faced across the diverse continent.Each issue chapter is organized around three fundamental questions: Where are we now? How did we get to this point? What are the current debates? Interspersed throughout are vivid sidebars acquainting the student with ten well-known ?big men? and ten equally important but lesser known African actors. The text also includes the ABCs of development jargon and an extensive glossary.Other useful features include chapter-by-chapter suggestions for further reading and a comprehensive index.Todd J. Moss is a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development in Washington, DC and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. He is the author of Adventure Capitalism: Globalization and the Political Economy of Stock Markets in Africa.Contents: 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. Africa?s 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 Capital and the Business Environment. Conclusion. Some Emerging Themes.