Ignored by theoreticians and discredited by militant attackers of imperialism whose dialectical reasoning proved Africa's impotence in global politics, the continent now often appears to exist only as a reminder of the failures of indigenous rule. Until the end of the Cold War the post-colonial dividend was a near-absolute power in the hands of political elites who tolerated no opposition and manipulated the political space for their personal gain. The lot of ordinary Africans hovered between the legacy of the colonial social contract and an indifferent international community focused on the Cold War. In this book Nana Poku seeks to analyse change and continuity in contemporary African politics and society through the lens of a fundamental challenge facing leaders of all African states: how to consolidate their states and develop their societies. The author thinks afresh about politics in Africa and reflects on the way it has changed and continues to change since independence. The aim is to equip the reader with a sound understanding of continental issues, to enable them to make sense of its complexities and to objectively contribute to some of the major debates which preoccupy scholars of the continent.