The Political Thought of African Independence: An Anthology of Sources

Description

The Political Thought of African Independence: An Anthology of Sources brilliantly frames the debates that captivated the world as former European colonies in Africa began their transition to sovereign rule in the 1950s and '60s. Its wealth of key documents are enhanced by Gregory Smulewicz-Zucker's General Introduction, part introductions, headnotes, and annotations, providing needed contextual information and supports for readers.

Gregory R. Smulewicz-Zucker is the Managing Editor of Logos: A Journal of Modern Society and Culture. He is the co-editor, with Michael J. Thompson, of Radical Intellectuals and the Subversion of Progressive Politics (Palgrave), and the author of the forthcoming Confronting Reification: The Revitalization of a Concept in Late Capitalism (Brill/Haymarket).

A great accomplishment. Not only does Smulewicz-Zuckers anthology bring together a diverse array of sources (54 in total), it also weaves together what are more or less canonical sources in twentieth-century African political thought with many unexpected, yet equally rich and illuminating, items. Smulewicz-Zucker has chosen material from all of the continents major regions, including . . . documents from more than two-dozen different countries, international and regional organizations, and conferences. Moreover, he has organized the material in a way that creates an engaging and powerful narrative articulating the complicated history of African independence. This outstanding collection will surely find its way into undergraduate courses in fields as diverse as African history, international relations, comparative politics, and even political theory. Jeffrey Ahlman, Smith College "These African voices will expose readers to the events and ideas that gave shape to African political thoughtfrom aspirations for power within the Anglican church and control over defining local and national cultures, to asserting national identities and conceptions of regional and continental unity. Taken together, they open a window onto the myriad ideas of, and struggles for, independence in Africa." Benjamin Talton, Temple University "Smulewicz-Zucker's Political Thought of African Independence is an excellent collection. I'm not only impressed by the selection of texts but also moved by a number of the pieces included in the book." Bill Fletcher Jr., former president of TransAfrica Forum "Smulewicz-Zucker's anthology of primary sources pertinent to the political imagination of, and ideologies informing, African independence is . . . a very welcome resource for teachers and researchers everywhere. The collection is vast and quite comprehensive, comprising four parts, each with a short introductory essay. The assemblage of such a diverse range of texts, traversing the length and breadth of the continent, is an effective way to challenge the teleology of the nation-state. The mini-introductions offer teachers numerous avenues for the exploration of the materials in the classroom setting, and for the development of lines of questioning for student writing assignments. By broadening the conversation beyond the political realm to incorporate religious, social, cultural, and (to a far lesser extent) gendered aspirations of autonomy and agency, Smulewicz-Zucker has provided a highly teachable and engaging pedagogical product." Benjamin N. Lawrence, University of Arizona, in African Studies Review