Section II :

Envisioning African Recovery

Abstract

The articles in this section of the inaugural edition of JJIA deal with Africa and reflect two basic themes. The first concerns the West’s influence in, and reaction to, socio-economic trends in Africa. The second theme concerns African state crisis, or failure, and imperative to establish rule of law. Horace Campbell issues a call to scholar-activists to reconsider the development project in Africa. In this regard,Campbell lends his stature to a growing number who assert, where the World Bank development policies are concerned,‘Fifty Years is Enough!’ Like the two hundred plus grassroot organisations that comprise the ‘Enough’ coalition, Professor Campbell takes issue with the paradox of Western powers which support ‘development’ policies that have not helped Africa ‘prosper.’ This includes policies which seem ambivalent to predatory lending practices, sustain resources wars, while failing to promote the kind of indigenous leadership which can address famine and internecine strife.