Introduction: The basis of comparison.
African independence: poisoned chalice or cup of plenty?
A profile of Africa at independence.
The shape of things to come: irredentism, secessionism and the Pan-African ideal.
Modernity and tradition, power and prestige: monarchs, chiefs and politicians, 1956-74.
'Ism schisms': African socialism and home-grown capitalism, 1960-85.
Khaki fatigue: military rule in Africa, 1960-85.
Second liberation: guerilla warfare, township revolt and the search for a new social order.
Invasion of the acronyms: SAPs, AIDS and the NGO takeover.
Democracy rediscovered: popular protest, elite mobilisation and the return of multipartyism.
Millennial Africa: the national question revisited.
