This publication critically reviews the effects of globalisation on sub-Saharan Africa over the last three decades. The large gains expected from opening up to international economic forces have, to date, been limited, while there have been significant adverse consequences. Foreign direct investment in the region has been largely confined to resource - especially mineral - extraction, even as continuing capital flight has reduced financial resources available for productive investments. Premature trade liberalisation has undermined prospects for the economic development of productive capacities in many sectors - including manufacturing and agriculture -- are not sufficiently competitive to take advantage of improvements in market access.