BOOK REVIEW

Ake, C. (1996) Democracy and Development in Africa. Washington D. C.: The Brookings Institution. 173 pp. Price: Not stated

Abstract

The book, Democracy and Development in Africa is Claude Ake’s last scholarly gift to the world. It is indeed classic in its form, content and analysis on the subject of development and democracy in Africa. The book which has five chapters in one hundred and seventy-three (173) pages was published in 1996 - two years after his death - by Brookings Institute, Washington D. C. Ake, broke ground on the problem of development in Africa. After over three decades of preoccupation with development in Africa, the economies of most African nations are still stagnating or regressing he argued. He was optimistic in saying that “for most Africans, incomes are lower than they were three decades ago, health prospects are poorer, malnutrition is widespread, and infrastructures and social institutions are breaking down”.