Alec Russell reviews favourably (in today’s Financial Times) a new book by George . Ayittey, [amazon_link id=”0230108598″ target=”_blank” ]Defeating Dictators: Fighting tyranny in Africa and around the world[/amazon_link]. The review describes it as an essential read for anyone interested in learning how to topple dictators, and anyone tempted to think it’s ok for the west to work with authoritarian regimes which are economic liberalisers, because they’re on the pathway to political freedom. Wrong, according to Prof Ayittey, who has an earlier book about African kleptocrats, [amazon_link id=”0312080581″ target=”_blank” ]Africa Betrayed[/amazon_link].

It is both encouraging – because a basis for realism – and depressing – because of the reality – that there are now a number of clear-eyed diagnoses of the nexus of political and economic problems in African countries. Martin Meredith’s [amazon_link id=”0857203878″ target=”_blank” ]The State of Africa: A History of the Continent Since Independence [/amazon_link] is a rather pessimistic analysis of the continuing shadow colonialism casts over present day political dysfunction. Deborah Brautigam’s [amazon_link id=”B005PUWRM4″ target=”_blank” ]The Dragon’s Gift[/amazon_link] is a fascinating study of Chinese investment in Africa, its geo-political and economic purposes, and the difficulties encountered by the Chinese. Tim Besley in [amazon_link id=”0691152683″ target=”_blank” ]Pillars of Prosperity[/amazon_link] is excellent on why politics matters for economic development.

We shouldn’t be too pessimistic, though. Africa’s economic performance has improved somewhat in recent years. Besides, understanding is always a better foundation for action than ignorance.

[amazon_image id=”0230108598″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Defeating Dictators: Fighting Tyranny in Africa and Around the World[/amazon_image]