Review

"A very serious and illuminating piece of scholarship about a strangely ignored topic in Africa. Handley has a clear and compelling theoretical argument that is nicely grounded in the cross-regional literature about state-business relationships and development. Her four country case studies on Ghana, Zambia, Mauritius, and South Africa are well done and based on real on-the-ground research - rare these days and certainly for this topic and place. At the same time, these fine empirical chapters always keep the historical context clearly in focus. Given the efforts at reforming African economies since the 1980s, this topic is absolutely central to any discussion of Africa's future. A fine book that really plugs Africa into the ongoing cross-regional debates about development." Thomas M. Callaghy, University of Pennsylvania

Book Description

Examining four countries (Ghana, Zambia, South Africa and Mauritius), Antoinette Handley analyses the capacity of the indigenous business community in Africa to shape economic policy. She explores the influence of the capitalist class on economic policymaking and asks why it has varied so widely across Africa.