Patrick J. McGowan, Scarlett Cornelissen, Philip Nel, eds. Power, Wealth and Global Equity: An International Relations Textbook for Africa. Cape Town: UCT Press, 2006. xx + 442 pp. ZAR 310.00 (paper), ISBN 978-1-919713-64-9.
Reviewed by Roger Pfister (Centre for International and Comparative Politics, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and Vice-Rectorate for Research, University of Fribourg, Switzerland)
Published on H-SAfrica (January, 2008)
Africa in International Relations
This is the third edition of a textbook that is aimed primarily at students, both in and of Africa, taking introductory courses in international relations. It has been widely used for this purpose; hence this revised and updated edition. It examines the global system from the perspective of sub-Saharan Africa, thus challenging northern stereotypes of the South.
Compared with the first edition, it has undergone substantial reworking; like the second edition, it is divided into two parts. Part 1 provides an introduction to the study of international relations, covering a variety of aspects including theories, actors, political economy, and ethics, among others. Africa's role therein comprises the second part of the work. The latter has changed significantly in comparison to the 2002 edition, resulting in a marked improvement in the quality of this textbook. Noteworthy are the two new chapters on the regional subsystems in both East and West Africa, which provide an important complement to the chapter on southern Africa.
Like its predecessors, this is a very useful introductory guide to the subject, written from a southern perspective, notwithstanding that both the editors and the majority of contributors are based in or are associated with academic institutions in South Africa.
If there is additional discussion of this review, you may access it through the network, at: https://networks.h-net.org/h-safrica.
Citation:
Roger Pfister. Review of McGowan, Patrick J.; Cornelissen, Scarlett; Nel, Philip, eds., Power, Wealth and Global Equity: An International Relations Textbook for Africa.
H-SAfrica, H-Net Reviews.
January, 2008.
URL: http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=14064
Copyright © 2008 by H-Net, all rights reserved. H-Net permits the redistribution and reprinting of this work for nonprofit, educational purposes, with full and accurate attribution to the author, web location, date of publication, originating list, and H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online. For any other proposed use, contact the Reviews editorial staff at hbooks@mail.h-net.org.