‘Somewhere above Poor but below Rich’: Explorations into the Species of the African Middle Class(es) - Henning Melber 1. African Middle Classes: Lessons from Transnational Studies and a Research Agenda - Carola Lentz 2. Human Development and the Construction of Middle Classes in the Global South - Tim Stoffel 3. Africa’s Middle Class, Africa’s Entrepreneurs and the 'Missing Middle' - Oluyele Akinkugbe and Karl Wohlmuth 4. Deconstructing the Myth of the African Middle Class - Sirkku K. Hellsten 5. Kenya – An Unconscious Middle Class? Between Regional-Ethnic Political Mobilisation and Middle Class Lifestyles - Dieter Neubert 6. Middle Class Activism in Nigeria: From Nationalist Struggle to Social Media Campaign - Nkwachukwu Orji 7. Emerging Middle Class Political Subjectivities in Post-war Angola - Jon Schubert 8. The Middle Class of Mozambique and the Politics of the Blank Slate - Jason Sumich 9. South Africa’s Black Middle Class Professionals - Amuzweni L. Ngoma 10. The Middle Class of Dar es Salaam and Kiswahili Video-Films - Vicensia Shule Conclusion: How Much Class Have the African Middle Classes? - Henning Melber
The first comprehensive volume to offer a critical perspective on the role of the new middle classes in contemporary Africa.
Henning Melber, a political scientist and sociologist, is the van Zyl Slabbert visiting professor for sociology and political sciences at the University of Cape Town. He is senior advisor at the Nordic Africa Institute and the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, having previously held directorships in both institutions. He is also extraordinary professor at the Department of Political Sciences of the University of Pretoria and the Centre for Africa Studies at the University of the Free State, as well as a senior research fellow at the Institute for Commonwealth Studies at the University of London. From 1992 to 2000, he was director of the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit (NEPRU). Melber has been co-editor of the Africa Yearbook since its first publication in 2005, is managing co-editor of Africa Spectrum and editor-in-chief of the Strategic Review for Southern Africa. His latest publications include (as co-editor) Peace Diplomacy, Global Justice and International Agency (2014) and (as author) Understanding Namibia (2015) and A Decade of Namibia (2016).
This is a much-needed addition to the literature on the political
mobilization of the middle class … the empirically rich insights
into diverse middle-class phenomena highlight the conceptual
challenge of the middle-class label.
*Africa Today*
Polemic, bold, engaging and an excellent read … a worthwhile
critical compendium of information not only on Africa’s middle
class but on sustainable social, cultural, economic, and political
change in Africa.'
*African Studies Quarterly*
Its combination of broader regional approaches and case studies
from six countries provides an unprecedented overview of the
relationships between contemporary economic, political and social
circumstances and local constructions of class. … a valuable
read.'
*Journal of Modern African Studies*
A worthy addition to the landmark Africa Now series of books
produced by Uppsala’s Nordic Africa Institute and Zed Books.
*Canadian Journal of African Studies*
This readable set of essays offers nuance throughout … the
overarching theme that unites this collection is an original
analysis of how to define, measure and understand the changing
cultural, political and economic identity of those Africans in
between the elites and the destitute.
*Journal of Southern African Studies*
Sorting fact from fiction, Melber brings together experts and
examines a variety of case studies. The end result is a much more
nuanced analysis of Africa's middle class and a fresh look at
societal transformations in contemporary Africa.
*New African*
A solid academic work.
*Ny Tid*
The Rise of Africa’s Middle Class bursts with argument … is
comprehensive in its review of the existing literature on the
concept of the middle class, as well as its engagement with
conventional definitions often used by economists. It goes beyond
empirical data to offer theoretical reflections and perspectives of
values.
*South African Journal of International Affairs*
The first systematic examination of the concept of an African
middle class. It provides a valuable conceptual discussion along
with in-depth case studies. This timely and critical analysis also
offers meaningful alternative interpretations of the major social
transformations taking place.
*Dominique Darbon, Sciences Po Bordeaux*
As this empirically grounded book richly demonstrates, there would
be little left to write home about being middle class, even by
modest African standards, if middle class Africans were to
seriously consider including fellow citizens in the personal
success they are credited with.
*Francis B. Nyamnjoh, University of Cape Town*
A very timely work with an impressive empirical width, and a sharp,
well-referenced analytical edge.
*Göran Therborn, author of Cities of Power*
Subjects recent hype about the rise of the middle class in Africa
to sceptical and critical analysis. An essential read for all
engaging with the middle classes in development debate.
*Gordon Crawford, Coventry University*
This intellectually ambitious and innovative collection combines
sophisticated analysis with detailed case studies. Timely and
hugely relevant, it marks a leap forward in our understanding of
the middle classes.
*Uma Kothari, University of Manchester*
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
