Development & Growth, Africa, World, African, History & Theory, Business Development, Foreign Languages, Political History, International Relations 

«Conteh-Morgan and Dixon-Fyle have crafted a competent study that at once presents a comprehensive overview of this West African state while situating their analysis within the framework of major theoretical insights extant on politics in the developing world. The result is both a complete and concise study of Sierra Leone's political history from precolonial times up to and including the political convulsions of the late 1990s. What these scholars, themselves Sierra Leonean nationals, have succeeded in doing so admirably is interpreting for both the attentive and general public the outcome of 'politico-economic mismanagement and confusion' in Sierra Leone» - (D. Elwood Dunn, Professor of Political Science, University of the South, Sewanee, TN)
«Conteh-Morgan and Dixon-Fyle offer a well-organized and superbly written account of Sierra Leone - a country that embodies many typical developmental characteristics of other West African states. Contemporary events are clearly presented as the product of the country's evolving history. The analysis contributes academically mature insight in two currently contradictory perceptions of Africa: Are its states collapsing? Or, is the continent about to enter its alleged 'renaissance'?
This timely and thorough account of a country not well known to nonspecialists will be an excellent addition to all African resource collections. Even a cursory examination of the book will reveal its relevant analytic structure, as well as the personal acquaintance of the writers with their subject.» (Karl P. Magyar, Professor, U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College)
«This work is absolutely necessary for an understanding of politics and society in Sierra Leone. It is comprehensive, informative, and theoretically solid. Indeed, it is a much-needed addition to the growing literature on policy, state-society relations, and democratization, or the absence of it, in Africa and Sierra Leone in particular.» (Moses K. Tesi, Editor, 'The Journal of African Policy Studies)

 

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………........p 1
Chapter 1: A Pre-colonial Overview………………………………………………………………......P 11
The Mane Invasions………………………………………………………………………....P 14
Some Conclusions on Early Political Structures and Procedure……...p 18
The Nineteenth Century Economy…………………………………………………...P 20
European Explorers……………………………………………………………………….....P 22
The Founding of Freetown…………………………………………………………...…..p 24
Suggested Readings…………………………………………………………………......…P 28
End notes……………………………………………………………………………………....…P30
Chapter 2: The Colonial Experience………………………………………………………….......….P 31
The Beginning of the Krio Diaspora……………………………………………......p 34
Establishing a Protectorate in the Hinterland………………………….........p 38
The Aftermath of the Hut Tax War…………………………………………….....…p 43
An Undiversified Resources- Based Economy……………………………....…p 46
Suggested Readings………………………………………………………………….....….P 49
Endnotes………………………………………………………………………………….......….P 51
Chapter 3: Decolonization and the Making of the Post-Colonial State…......…...p 53
The Krio on the political Margins……………………………………………....…...p 53
The West African Youth League………………………………………………...…...p 57
Krio Elite Reaction to Constitutional Developments………………..….....P 60
The Path to Political Independence………………………………………….....….P 63
Further unrest in the Protectorate…………………………………………….......P 65
Political Competition within the SLPP………………………………………......P 68
Political Culture…………………………………………………………………………....…P 69
Suggested Readings…………………………………………………………………...….P 71
Endnotes……………………………………………………………………………………......P 73
Chapter 4: Tread in polities, society, and Economy in the
Post-Colonial State……………………………………………………………………………........……p 75
Problems of Legitimacy and Ethnic Diversity…………………………...….P 75
Power Consolidation and Ethno regional Identities…………………...…p 77
Siaka Stevens Assumes Power…………………………………………………....…P 79
Economic Tread and Neopatrimonialism………………………………….....…P 83
External Dependence……………………………………………………………….....….P 86
Suggested Readings………………………………………………………………....…….P 87
Endnotes……………………………………………………………………………….....….….P 88
Chapter 5: Political Stagnation and Economic Decline……………………….....….…P 91
Economic Decline and External Economic Imperatives…………...……..P 91
Private Accumulation and Deepening Inequalities…………………....…...P 94
Specific Aspects of Decline………………………………………………………….......P 100
Immediate causes of Decline………………………………………………….....…….P 112
Suggested Readings…………………………………………………………………......….P 117
Endnotes…………………………………………………………………………………….........p 118
Chapter 6: Into the 1990s: Prospects for Reform………………………………….....….P 121
Momoh’s Initiatives……………………………………………………………....…..…P 122
The Spillover of the Liberian Conflict…………………………………….…....P 126
The of the APC Rule…………………………………………………………….……....P 129
The May 1997 coup d’état and the Consequent Crisis………….…...P 136
Suggested Readings…………………………………………………………….….....p 138
End notes……………………………………………………………………………........P 139
Chapter 7: Conclusion: Social Change, Frustration and Violence……….……....P 143
Broader Reasons for the Coup, and External Reactions…….…….…P 145
The Sierra Leone State………………………………………………………....…….P 150
The Issue of External Dependence……………………………………...……..P 154
Suggested Readings…………………………………………………………….….....P 157
End notes……………………………………………………………………………..….... P 158