“This slim volume provides a solid, thoughtful overview of Africa’s international politics to the new student of the topic … The book’s strengths are its good coverage of all major ongoing issues, the historical and multidisciplinary perspective it provides on these issues, and the accessible style of presentation. It is largely unburdened by the theoretical jargon of any of the disciplines (geography, economics, international relations, sociology) with which the author is well acquainted.
“This study provides an interesting ‘European,’ or more specifically French, perspective on Africa. The author has absorbed the works of such major French or Francophone African scholars as Jean-Francois Bayart, Jean-Pierre Chretian, Catherine Coquery-Vidrovitch, Achille Mbembe, Elikia Mbokolo, and Roland Pourtier. (Citation of the voluminous English language literature is scant.) Such ‘giant’ European intellectuals as Braudel, Durkheim, Gide, Hegel, Malthus, and Nietzsche all make cameo appearances in the book. This philosophical perspective provides the author with a vantage from which he makes a number of insightful observations on the trajectory of African development and international engagement over centuries.
“This volume may also appeal to some introductory students of African politics and international relations. It is surprisingly up-to-date on such questions as the diffusion of information technology in Africa. Further, it is mercifully void of the mind-numbing statistical analyses that consume some American texts on Africa. Finally, the good translation by Rendall ensures that English-language audiences will enjoy this quick read without stumbling over many incomprehensible translations of rather complex and often obscure writing of French academics.”
— International Journal of African Historical Studies
“[Hugon] opposes two common ideas: that of a marginalized Africa and that of a uniform Africa. He emphasizes contrasts and the intertwining of the political, economic, and cultural dimensions to give meaning to the internal and international challenges confronting African societies that are in the midst of transformation.”
— Les Clionautes