Security and Development in Southern Africa

(Hardback)

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With the end of white-dominated South Africa, many observers have argued for a positive transformation of the whole of Southern Africa based upon market integration and increased cooperation among the states of the region. Poku and the contributors to this collection re-examine this optimistic scenerio, and they point to the problems of translating good intentions into actual policies. In reality, the economic imbalance between South Africa and its neighbors poses severe problems for the region. Far from finding a stronger ally in regional reconstruction and development, the countries in the region are finding that for many in South Africa they simply do not matter that much. The analysis points to greater polarization, which may imply greater marginalization of the poorer countries in the region. Moreover, a major widening of the gap between the richer South Africa and some or all of the weaker economies may lead to increased tensions and breakdown of regional relations, even to a situation detrimental to economic development in the region. A provocative analysis by some of the leading politico-economic thinkers of the region, the volume will be of great use to scholars, researchers, and policy makers involved with Southern African development.

Reviews

[T]he importance of this book under review is that the regionness of southern Africa, in contrast to the aspirations that the region embarked upon with the formation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have been largely frustrated. Indeed, any reconfiguration of the region along the lines promoted by the regional elites is, at present, essentially an agenda grounded on neo-liberalism, It is this actuality that at once enjoys the enthusiastic support of capital on the one hand, while posing severe problems for notions of security as defined by this book. Unraveling the implications of this is obviously vital and this work is a valuable contribution to the effort.-African Studies Quarterly
"The importance of this book under review is that the regionness of southern Africa, in contrast to the aspirations that the region embarked upon with the formation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have been largely frustrated. Indeed, any reconfiguration of the region along the lines promoted by the regional elites is, at present, essentially an agenda grounded on neo-liberalism, It is this actuality that at once enjoys the enthusiastic support of capital on the one hand, while posing severe problems for notions of security as defined by this book. Unraveling the implications of this is obviously vital and this work is a valuable contribution to the effort."-African Studies Quarterly
"[T]he importance of this book under review is that the regionness of southern Africa, in contrast to the aspirations that the region embarked upon with the formation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have been largely frustrated. Indeed, any reconfiguration of the region along the lines promoted by the regional elites is, at present, essentially an agenda grounded on neo-liberalism, It is this actuality that at once enjoys the enthusiastic support of capital on the one hand, while posing severe problems for notions of security as defined by this book. Unraveling the implications of this is obviously vital and this work is a valuable contribution to the effort."-African Studies Quarterly

Author Bio

Nana Poku is Lecturer of Politics at the University of Southampton and a UN researcher.