A comparative study of the difficulties in developing a private enterprise economy. This is a general survey of the influence of political factors (especially patronage) on economic performance throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with case studies drawn from Ghana, Zambia and Uganda. North America: Africa World Press; Uganda: Fountain Publishers

"The Politics of Patronage in Africa is a systematic study of the political constraints on the efforts made there to move from a state-driven to a private enterprise based form of development. In a series of clearly outlined and well-written chapters, the author examines, successively, the political economy of Africa's parastatals, the politics of privatization, the politics of private African capital, and relations between African governments and foreign businesses. He concludes with a sobering chapter on the politics of African state economic governance." - INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

"... a highly informative, clearly written and excellently argued study of what actually happens in African countries once the 'donors' (a remarkable word which usually means 'creditors') move in, and along with demands for civil service retrenchments and social service cutbacks, demand the privatisation of state owned industry. The particular merit of his work is that it is offered in a very low key, yet highly analytical fashion which will provide enormous food for thought for both radical and conservative schools. Furthermore, and perhaps key to the entire project, is that Tangri's examination of privatisation, rather than being framed by a policy-driven economism, is based firmly upon a deep understanding of African politics." - JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN STUDIES