Book Reviews 91
The Feminist Theory, on the other hand, discusses the position of women in
ternlS of social and cultural factors that restrict women's access to the labour
market: "A woman' splace is in the kitchen" . The argument is that the reproductive
and productive roles of women are inseparable. It is only when men perceive
women as equals that a balance can be rea1ised. But while men expect women in
employment to fall back on their gender-based social expectations, and continue
treating women as sexual objects, then this still remains an issue.
Janet Henshall Momsen discusses and presents in the book ten case studies with
personalised stories of women's lives and how they have developed coping
strategies in the context of the Third World. She has established that women are
central to development; they control most of the non-money market economy
through bearing and raising children; they provide labour for the household;
provide maintenance and subsistence agricul lure. They also contribute to both the
formal and informal sector of the economy.
She concludes the book by challenging policy makers by calling for increased
opportunities for women so that they can become economically independent.
I recommend the book to students of social work for it would give them an
insightinto some of the problems that society today faces, and gender di fferentiation
is just but one of them. The book is very informative, educative, interesting and
attempts to clarify some of the myths that arise because of women's issues; perhaps
the question remains as to whether there should be positive discrimination so as
to accord women an equal status. Definitely the problem cannot be isolated to the
ThirdWorld. It is a global issue and therefore needs a united (global) confrontation.
Reviewed by Agatha Tsitsi Dodo, National Association of Non-Governmental
Ogranisations (NANGO), Harare.
The Politics of Africa's Economic Recovery, Richard Sandbrook. Cambridge
University Press, New York, 1993, ISBN: 0-521-41543-8 (hIb), 0-521-42563-8
(p!b), 27,95 pounds (bib), 10,95 pounds (p!b).
Sandbrook raises the most perplexing and unseuled question of concern to the
student of African politics: which is the appropriate development strategy for
Africa? Since independence, there has been no agreement on a suitable model of
development, hence two predominant ideologies of development were adopted:
state-capitalism and (African) socialism. The issue of appropriate development
strategy is particularly important because of the current economic crisis in Africa
and the need for a model that would overcome the crisis to promote sustainable
development Sandbrook's work is a vivid portrayal of economic hardship in sub-
Saharan Africa.
92 Book Reviews
The book conlains dala for comparative analysis of Africa's economic
performance and illustrates that very few countries have been successful while the
majority have had dismal records. Sandbrook outlines tlle link between economic
stagnation and slate decay. Chapter 2 highlights the failure of both state-capitalist
and socialist-oriented models of development adopted in sub-Saharan Africa. His
explanation for the failure of both strategies centres on both lack of political will
of leaders, and lack of state abilities for initiation and execution of development
programmes. He Iackles the controversial structural adjustment programmes
(SAPs), stating their merits and demerits as well as their flawed or faulty
assumptions. He correctly points out that SAPs have not had the intended impact.
Citing cases to back-up his arguments, he concludes that overall, SAPs have
neither improved the socioeconomic conditions of the poor majority, nor increased
production and foreign investment.
More important and illuminating is his valuable assessment of the current
strategy of development based on the free market economy and democratisation
favoured by the international donor community and embraced by African
governments. He dispels the notion that the free market economy and democracy
are 'twin panaceas' of Africa's economic and political ills as promoted by such
institutions as the World Bank, and cautions the high expectations of African
leaders and the people as to the results of such a model of development.
Sandbrook convincingly illustrates that in the short-run the current strategy
would help revitaIise African economies. However, he is sceptical of its long-run
utility. He recommends an alternative strategy called the transformational approach
for long-term and viable development. He is critical of theWorId Bank's inadequate
consideration of the global economy's restraints on African development prospects
because of its emphasis on domestic hindrances. He emphasises the negative
consequences of external dependency on African economies. Therefore, he echoes
the radical writings of dependency theorists like Gunder Frank in assigning the
prime role to world market forces to explain under-development and the need for
re-orienlation of Third World economies as well as self-reliance. Sandbrook,
however, discusses internal constraints on African development and illustrates
inter-relationship between external and internal factors as deterrents on African
development Moreover, he acknowledges that the transformational approach
(based on self-reliance, Slate intervention, mass participation and promotion of
people's basic needs), though an alternative to the market economy approach, has
not been a success in the past, both at national and regional levels. Therefore, he
is cautious of its implemenlation in the future.
He also takes to Iask the other assumptions of the free market economy and
democratisation strategy of development: the limited role assigned to the state
Book Reviews 93
which he considers faulty because historical experience elsewhere (eg 19th
Century Europe - Russia) shows the need for an active develop-mental state to
spearhead economic development. Africa, being underdeveloped, needs an
'interVentionist' state, not only to initiate productive invesunent and create a
conducive economic environment for prospective investors, but also to provide
economic goods to the disadvantaged majority for improved human welfare. He
challenges the assumption that democratisation is a sufficient condition for
equitable distribution of the fruits of economic liberalisation. He is not at all sure
thatconditions in Africa are conducive to the sustenance of liberal democracy. He,
therefore, brings up the popular concern of whether or not democracy and political
stability are feasible in view of the economic hardshipsexpcrienced by the majority
of Africans.
Itmakes stimulating and easy reading. It is a useful analysis of major problems
affecting African development and keeps alive the debate about Africa's
development prospects. It is a must for academics, especially for college and
universitystudenlSof African and International Politics, international aid institutions
and political leaders alike.
Reviewed by Prof Kwaku Osei-Hwedie, Senior Lecturer, Department of Political
and Administrative Studies University of Botswana, Gaborone.
Marriage and Family Therapy: a Sociocognitive Approach, Nathan Hurvitz
and Roger A Straus, Haworth Press, New York, 1991, ISBN 1-56024-060-1 hard!
1-56024-061-X soft, 229 pp + index, $29,95 (h/b), $17,95 (Plb).
"A revelatory new book, Marriage and Family Therapy is important
reading for therapists working with clients of varied social. cultural and
economic backgrounds. Drawn upon concepts from sociology and techniques
from psychology. this book is the result of the extensive work of tM
lale Dr Nathan H UTvitz. It is rich with transcripts and case examples. culled
from the authors' more than 35 years of practice. providing valuable
background information on difficult-to-reach populations. TM result. a
humanist' approach to family problems. as detailed in Marriage and
Family Therapy, enables the therapist to cross social. cu.ltural and racial
boundaries to work effectively with and make an impact of families whose
social characteristics differ greatly from his or her own" (The Haworth
Press).
I unreservedly agree with the press release statement because I found reading
this book very pleasurable and refreshing. It is very practical and the clinician is