BOOK REVIEW
BY FIDELIS NCHEWI EKOM-Abuja/Nigeria.
BOOK
TITLE: Africa in the world of the 21st century.
PUBLISHERS: Ibadan University Press,Nigeria.
YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2000
PAGES: 317
AUTHOR: Professor Bade Onimode, Dept. of Economics, University of Ibadan,
Nigeria.
There are a plethora of books in the market on “Africa in the world of the 21st century”, most of which are well worth the read, Prof. Bade Onimode’s book being one of them.
Apart from the introduction of the book by the author, the book is divided into ten chapters.
What one finds when reading the book, is very easy style that invites interaction, thus making the book user friendly with an extensive index, making referencing fast and easy.
This stunning book -“Africa in the world of the 21st century” by Onimode, represents the most comprehensive analysis on “current debates and concerns about the African crisis to the status and prospects for Africa in the
global system of the 21st century”. According to the author, the book is clearly a response to myopia about the present vis-à-vis the problems, challenges and opportunities as a result of aspirations of the Millennium goals. This therefore becomes a necessity for a continent accused repeatedly of “short-sightedness” in the past about failure to anticipate the major crisis of the global political economy of the 1980s. This were in the areas of grinding poverty in many parts of the world, financial disorders, foreign debts, wars, refugees, famine, ecological disasters, widespread human rights abuses, terrorism, AIDS/HIV, drugs, etc. Consequent upon these, the reality of re-defining and streamlining national and regional systems in the new millennium with other parts of world, in the face of the inadequacies of Africa ‘s agenda for the new century, makes the book compelling.
A broad number of leading authors are quoted in the book to support data presented. While revealing existing
Economic blocks of other regions of the world such as the European Union, ASEAN in the pacific, NAFTA in North America, etc and attempts made by these to revamp the global competition of the new century, the book emphasizes that Africa’s strategy for dealing with problems of the present, must be premised on experiences of the past, as well expectations for future developments.
It is the contention of Prof. Bade Onimode that Africa must rise up to the challenge by adopting it own peculiar mode for future development within the nexus of comprehending the global world, its future directions, challenges and available opportunities. He enthused that it is obvious the African continent is paying the prize of lack of vision, and that this must not be allowed to continue in the new millennium.
The book under review is a rejection of what Onimode refers to as “Afro-pessimism”, which sees Africa as doomed for ever. For other authors who ascribed to “Afro-opportunism” which says Africa only needs to market and conduct more elections in the guise of democracy, and the era of bliss will come, Onimode instead recommends “Afro-realism”- meaning a hard critical examination of the objective socio-economic realities on ground and those that may unfold, e.g., continuing debt crisis to the early 21st century with its attendant economic and political conditionalities; inability of the World Trade Organization(WTO) to achieve the recovery of Africa’s commodity trade; lingering poverty with continued repressive rule in several countries; conflicts and environmental problems into the early years of the 21st century.
Onimode’s realism by the book “Africa in the world of the 21st century”, made recognition of popular democracies won in selected African countries- Nigeria, Malawi, South Africa, Mali, etc.; massive economic reforms misguided by failed SAP policies; increasing radicalization of the African peoples for survival; empowerment and a more equitable role in the global system; etc. The other dimension is the global struggle for the democratization of the United Nations system and the world economy; gradual power shift from the North to South-East Asia, with growing contest of US hegemony and its implications for the global redistribution of resources and power; growing liberation of women and the empowerment of the people; global paradigm shifts; the pressures of demographic dynamics around the world; etc.
The book posits that the unfolding mega trends of a world in transition to the new millennium are very obvious and compelling. And that new technologies via biotech and informatics with internet have reduced the world into a global village. As a consequence, new paradigms are emerging and challenging older ones, regional economic blocks continue to consolidate contrary advocation of institutional liberalization and globalization such as the Uraquay round of GATT and its all pervading World Trade Organization. Suffice it to say that environmental concerns have today become a household name to the extent that bio-politics has been elevated into an “art”.
Onimode says all these amongst others, must therefore compel Africa to join the competition of the century. And that the political drama in the world today, portend that Africa must assume the centre stage to re-orientate society on her dreams, deliberately cultivate new world leadership which may be considered broad in vision and action.
For Prof. Bade Onimode, this is the great path of survival and effective participation in the future world system for Africa – not the continued traditional servitude, prostrate dependency and supine passivity.