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Capital cities today remain central to both nations and states. They host centres of political power, not only national, but in some cases regional and global as well, thus offering major avenues to success, wealth and privilege. For these reasons capitals simultaneously become centres of 'counter-power', locations of high-stakes struggles between the government and the opposition. This volume focuses on capital cities in nine sub-Saharan African countries, and traces how the power vested in them has evolved through different colonial backgrounds, radically different kinds of regimes after independence, waves of popular protest, explosive population growth and in most cases stunted economic development. Starting at the point of national political emancipation, each case study explores the complicated processes of nation-state building through its manifestation in the 'urban geology' of the city - its architecture, iconography, layout and political use of urban space. Although the evolution of each of these cities is different, they share a critical demographic feature: an extraordinarily rapid process of urbanisation that is more politically than economically driven. Overwhelmed by the inevitable challenges resulting from this urban sprawl, the governments seated in most of these capital cities are in effect both powerful - wielding power over their populace - and powerless, lacking power to implement their plans and to provide for their inhabitants. In its concentration on urban forms of multi-layered power, symbolic as well as material, Capital Cities in Africa cuts a new path in the rich field of studies related to African cities and politics. It will be of interest to scholars in a wide range of disciplines, from political history, to sociology, to geography, architecture and urban planning.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

After years of being treated as a taboo subject, the issue of corruption has begun to attract serious attention from the aid donor community. Corruption is, in its simplest terms, the abuse of power most often for personal gain or for the benefit of a group to which one owes allegiance. This book achieves a balance between a theoretical and a practical discussion of corruption and its causes and remedies. It explores the interaction between corruption and economic performance. While the economic costs of corruption are difficult to measure, some studies suggest that its costs would include: An additional 3-10 percent increase for the price of a given transaction to speed up the delivery of a government service. Inflated prices for goods by as much as 15-20 percent. Diverted tax revenues that can cost the government as much as 50 percent of its tax revenues. This volume focuses on the following: Lessons learned with two examples of good practice (Hong Kong and Singapore). The economic and institutional approaches to anti-corruption efforts, with particular attention to the role of the public sector and civil society, including the media. Case studies on Uganda, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone. Lessons learned indicate that an effective anticorruption strategy would be multifaceted, combining economic reforms, and strengthening national integrity institutions. And political commitment would be key to sustaining this effort.".
(source: Nielsen Book Data)