The continent of Africa is rich in minerals needed by Western economies. Yet the mining industry contributes very little to African development.

Investigating the impact of the 2003 Extractive Industries Review on a number of African countries, the contributors find that a key dimension of the problem lies in the regulatory frameworks imposed on African countries by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. They aim to convince academics, governments, and industry that regulation needs to be reformed to create a mining industry favourable to social and economic development and environmental protection.

The book takes a multidisciplinary approach and provides an historical perspective of each country, making it ideal for students of development studies.