In this fully revised edition top scholars in African politics address the effects that major currents in Africa and world politics have upon each other and explore the ramifications of this interconnection for contemporary theories of international and comparative politics. The fourth edition focuses on issues of reforming and strengthening states and their economies in sub-Saharan Africa. The nation-state as we know it is a legacy of European rule in Africa, and the primacy of the nation-state remains a bedrock of most contemporary theories of international relations. Yet in the fifth decade of Africa’s independence, this colonial inheritance has been profoundly affected by both state weakness and prospects for real economic and political reform, by continuing marginalization globally but also evolving new relationships with the world community. The fourth edition includes new readings on the AIDS crisis in Africa, the regional war on terrorism, and Africa’s growing economic engagement with China. The book remains an invaluable resource for students of African and world politics.