Includes bibliographical references and index.

"African Politics: An Introduction is an engaging, broad-ranging guide to the politics of African states, reflecting on contemporary patterns and trends, whilst also situating them in their historical context. Viewed from the outside, African politics are often said to be too complex and multifarious to understand properly, leading to widespread misunderstandings and stereotypes. This book challenges these assumptions, providing an accessible, reader-friendly guide. Starting with an introduction to the historical roots of African politics right back to the precolonial era, the book goes on to discuss colonialism and the independence movement, before diving into the post-colonial state and the challenges of governance, development, and conflict which many states have struggled with. The book looks in detail at the various actors involved, from religious groups, to political parties, youth politics, women, social movements, and different social classes. At the end of each chapter, a classwork box provides students with a particular example of an African state or event to investigate in more detail, encouraging them to consider the specific and to resist generalizations. African Politics: An Introduction is perfect for an undergraduate student starting out in their studies of African politics, but it would also be a welcome read for any reader who wants to learn a bit more about the governance of Africa"-- Provided by publisher.