Neoliberal Africa: The Impact of Global Social Engineering

by Graham Harrison

Neoliberalism has shaped African development for nearly thirty years. As such, it is not an economic 'shock' or a 'structural adjustment', but rather a historic shift in Africa's development politics and policy. This book explores the ways in which African countries have experienced the neoliberal project, highlighting how this project has gone beyond economic liberalisation and towards a bolder social transformation. As an ideology, neoliberalism projects an end-point not simply of a market economy but of a market society. After thirty years of projects, aid disbursement, technical assistance, and conditionality, this book maps out the extent to which African states have cleaved to neoliberal directives. It suggests that neoliberal 'progress' in Africa is notably limited in spite of the resources behind it and the lack of alternatives to it.

Genres: Politics, Africa, Economics

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Ciahnan Darrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are those who would have you believe that Africa and Africans are the reason much of Africa exists outside of prosperity; there are also those who would have you believe that neoliberalism is no more than a specter conjured by liberals and activists to demonize global capitalism. Harrison's excellent book does a remarkable and efficient job revealing both claims to be specious, and should be required reading for anyone studying and attempting to understand Southern Africa.