Social Problems in Africa

Despite the recent growth of research on social problems facing the people of sub-Saharan Africa, there remains a critical lack of conceptual, epistemological, and empirical research and documentation. This sophisticated new book attempts to fill that gap by synthesizing, interpreting, and extending the existing literature on conditions that constitute serious impediments to socio-economic development in Africa. It provides an original and up-to-date survey of key problems ranging from poverty and inequality to violence and crime. The contributors, all of whom have lived or worked in Africa, show how social problems emerge, how they are defined, and how various actors attempt to deal with them. This timely book provides a much needed analysis of the major issues and debates regarding the dynamics of social problems in the African context. Social Problems in Africa is broken into four parts. The first introduces readers to the nature of social problems in general and provides a framework for analyzing and understanding social problems in an African context. Part II, on culture, human rights and democracy, examines these crucial aspects of social problems in Africa, as well as issues such as language and colonialism. Part III focuses on poverty and inequality, while conflict and violence is the focus of Part IV. Together, the chapters in this volume provide the most comprehensive and systematic approach to the issues available, bringing much-needed attention to the problems in Africa from the perspective of scholars who have lived and worked there.

APOLLO RWOMIRE is Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Botswana, where he has taught since 1993./e His research and publications, which include many books, chapters, and journal articles, encompass social policy, social science methodology, education and development, and social problems. In addition, he serves as a consultant to FAO and UNICEF.

Preface Introduction The Nature of Social Problems by Apollo Rwomire Toward Understanding Social Problems in Africa by David Macdonald Culture, Human Rights and Democracy Language and The Politics of Power in Africa by Euphrase Kezilahabi Cultural Incongruity in Changing Africa by Anthonia Adindi and Norma Romm The Authoritarian State and Human Rights Violation in Post-Colonial Africa: A Case Study of Nigeria, 1983-1995 by Dauda Abubakar Poverty and Inequality The Feminization of Poverty in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa by Kyama Kabadaki Monitoring Urban and Rural Poverty in Nigeria by Felix Onah Determinants of Labor Ligration to Gaborone, Botswana by Oludele Akinboade Conflict and Violence ISocial and Political Aspects of Violence in Africa by Tibamaya Mwene Mushanga Nigeria's Armed Robbery Problem by Emmanuel Igbo Africa's Refugee Crisis by Rodreck Mupedziswa Social Change and Organized Crime in Southern Africa by Daniel Nsereko Bibliography Index