92 BookRcvicm
Despite the above shortcomings the book can prove useful to a number of
users. One of these are the administrators at senior and top level management in
management development institutions and associated decision making and policyformulating
organs in both private and public sectors of the economy. Forinstance,
management in public universities and public corporations can learn how to
manage their organisations better. Some of these organisations are on the verge
of collapse unless swift action is taken.The book is also useful to teachers, and
students in management and administration. Finally, the book is also useful to
lecturers and general readers interested in the subject of Business Administration
or personnel management One would notice that most university lecturers tend
to concentrate more on Western neoclassical theories, some of which are of little
value to Africa settings. This title would be able to assist such academicians to
relate neoclassical theories as those of Fredrick Taylor, Henry Fayol, Max Weber,
Elton Mayo to Africa's management issues and problems.
Reviewed by Mr G S Namusonge, Senior Lecturer and Director, Institute for
Human Resources Development, Jomo Kenyatta University College of Agriculture
and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.
psychothempy and the Poverty Patient, (1990) E Mark Stern (ed), The Haworth
Press, New York, London.
The Editor,Mark Stern,claims that this monograph takes a wide angled look at a
mottled contemJ?Oraryissue which presents both clinical and philosophical challenges
to the practitioner. The book is compiled of the views of sixteen therapists
from various schools of thought and disciplines based sometimes on their clinical
experience and/or philosophy and sometimes on research. AlthOugh it is based
mainly on the American experience, much of it can be transferred in principle to
a third world context and does provoke thought
The article "Power and Poverty ip Psychotherapy,by Jorge A Montijo
argues that there is no great distinction between psychotherapy with the poor and
psychotherapy in general but stresses the importance of substituting the poor/
affluent dichotomy for a dialectical analysis that contemplates the poverty or
relative powerlessness of the more affluent therapists, together with the inherent
capacity for empowerment and liberation of the dispossessed. He says that when
the therapist shares power and faces their own relative powerlessness they promote
empathy, community and personal growth.
Kaisa Puhakka distinguishes between the poverty patient who does not
have 'things" and the impoverished patient who experiences a sense of not having,
Book Rell~ws 93
not being and not being able to do anything at all. She maintains that the conditions
of therapy must provide an opportunity, in concrete, experiential tenns for the
patients to give in return for the services they receive by requiring,forexample,that
the patient donate their time and effort in helping others in community service, and
that the restorative effect of such involvement can be dramatic.
The dangers of working with any group that the therapist does not respect,
feels sorry for or patronises are highlighted by Ronald Fox, whilst Mary S Cerney
discusses issues related to payment of reduced fees, free medical treatment and
nonmonetary payment.
Karen Simpson Callaway explores the association between victimisation
and powerlessness in relation to conceptions of reality that are often held by lower
status individuals, which tends to constrict their available life choices.
The universal need for psychotherapy and the delivery of service in a
creative but nonsacrificial way is addressed by Emily Simerly, who argues for
creativity in the direction of treatment options for the poor rather than charity.
An account of a black, Kenyan male patient in therapy with Hanneke Bot,a
white expatriate female, is given it focuses on transference and countertransference,
in this case of cross cultural therapy,and how when dealt with successfully
it can be of great benefit to client and therapist Sanford S Fishbein and Richard R
Kilburg graphically explore their work as psychotherapists inside a juvenile
detention facility, highlighting issues of the context on therapy.
The Editor of the book interviews a Franciscan friar, Brother Bob Lombardo,
who works as a pastoral counsellor in a small shelter for homeless men in
New York City and who utilises his pastoral vantage point after reviewing
economic, intellectual, psychological and spiritual aspects of poverty.
An addition to Maslow s theory of the hierarchy of needs to corporate the
concept of self actualisation within every act of life so that the acts of obtaining
food, water and reproductive sex, plus shelter should be interposed with the spirit
of thankfulness, celebration and unity is proposed by Kris Jeter.
Anne L Wissler explores the experience of inner impoverishment with
reference to themes that emerge when patients are seeking new patterns of living
that more accurately feed the urgings of inner longings, and she discusses strategies
for attuning to and living from the creative unconscious.
Thomas V Saygerand Kevin 0 Heiddiscuss the issues facing impoverished
families inrural communities and the therapists providing services for them. They
provide information regarding roadblocks to successful treatment, strengths of impoverished
rural families and suggestions for treatment programmes.
Finally, Deane H Shapiro describes one aspect of a control model of
psychological health, illustrated by the use of two cases referred for stress related
94 Book Reviews
disorders.
The articles presented in this book clearly demonstrate how therapeutic
approaches are directly organised by the philosophy, experience and attitude of the
therapists to poverty.
The therapist's self examination and awareness of their own attitudes and
motivation in working either with, or without the poor is clearly of prime
importance as this has a direct effect on the usefulness of therapy, both to the
therapist and client.
There are enough different points of view in this book to stimulate thought
for every therapist and I recommend it to anyone involved in working with people.
Reviewed by C Farrell, Director, Connect (Zimbabwe Institute of Systemic
Therapy)
Aid to African Agrkulture: Lessons from two Decades of Donor's Experience
editor Uma Lele (Published for the World Bank by The John Hopwell University
Press, Baltimore and London 1992).
The 627 paged book is a comprehensive account of the state of Mrican agriculture
and a good indicator of the need for consensus among donors and governments on
ways to proceed in resuming broadly based growth in African agriculture. In the
words of Urna Lele, the editor, "over the past three decades, billions of dollars have
been transferred from developed countries to Mrica Yet there is a widespread
view that much of this aid has done little to stimulate growth, alienate poverty, or
create human and institutional capacity. Poor performance in Mrican countries is
often blamed on the internal economic policies. But there is increasing recognition
that aid is part of the problem" .
African Agriculture
Whilst the general picture of Mrican agricult~ is gloomy, it is clear that this
World Bank publication intends to show that there are some important successes
in Africa whose implications on futUre actions by Africans and donors must be
understood. It is important to note that there is a general consensus on certain
preconditions which must be fulfilled in order to have mutually satisfying results
from the current interaction explored in this volume. For more successes to be
scored, fundamental changes must be made in the ways donors and governments
operate in Mrica, changes that go beyond myriads of specific initiatives. This must
be accompanied by a fundamental rethinking of aid and development strategy.
This volume is a result of a 1984 World Bank initiative which resulted in