African Political Thought

Focusing on individual political thinkers and beginning with indigenous African political thought, the book successively examines African nationalism, African socialism, populism and Marxism, Africanism and pan-Africanism, concluding with contemporary perspectives on democracy, development and the African state.

“"Guy Martin, as a distinguished Africanist scholar, has rendered an invaluable and pioneering scholarly service with a much-needed single thematic volume that constitutes a synthesis of the state of knowledge in the context of African political thought, which deserves unlimited praise." - A.B. Assensoh, African American & African Diaspora Studies Professor Emeritus, Indiana University - Bloomington, USA "In this excellent book, Guy Martin has conducted the most comprehensive study of African political thought, by masterfully examining the various philosophical strands. As well, he systematically probed the historical development of each ideology from antiquity to present, including the significant but under-researched contributions of indigenous African political systems. This book is a must-read for those who are interested in African political philosophy." - George Klay Kieh, Jr., Professor of Political Science, University of West Georgia, USA " African Political Thought is a timely encyclopedic and enriched analytical work. Its arguments are deeply rooted in African political history, cultural values, and political struggles from ancient Africanity to the time of trans-Atlantic slavery and of neo-colonialism. Its methodological uniqueness is reflected in a comprehensive analysis of the major African political icons and pluralistic generations of African intellectuals. Written from Pan-African perspectives, Guy Martin proposes a rethinking of Africa in her totality. This outstanding analytical contribution will be relevant for many years to come." - Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo, Wells College and Cornell University, USA”

'Guy Martin, as a distinguished Africanist scholar, has rendered an invaluable and pioneering scholarly service with a much-needed single thematic volume that constitutes a synthesis of the state of knowledge in the context of African political thought, which deserves unlimited praise.' - A.B. Assensoh, African American & African Diaspora Studies Professor Emeritus, Indiana University-Bloomington, USA

'In this excellent book, Guy Martin has conducted the most comprehensive study of African political thought, by masterfully examining the various philosophical strands. As well, he systematically probed the historical development of each ideology from antiquity to present, including the significant but under-researched contributions of indigenous African political systems. This book is a must-read for those who are interested in African political philosophy.' - George Klay Kieh, Jr., Professor of Political Science, University of West Georgia, USA

'African Political Thought is a timely encyclopedic and enriched analytical work. Its arguments are deeply rooted in African political history, cultural values, and political struggles from ancient Africanity to the time of trans-Atlantic slavery and of neo-colonialism. Its methodological uniqueness is reflected in a comprehensive analysis of the major African political icons and pluralistic generations of African intellectuals. Written from Pan-African perspectives, Guy Martin proposes a rethinking of Africa in her totality. This outstanding analytical contribution will be relevant for many years to come.' - Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo, Wells College and Cornell University, USA

GUY MARTIN is Professor of Political Science at Winston-Salem State University, USA. He is the author of Africa in World Politics: A Pan-African Perspective (2002); co-editor (with Chris Alden) of South Africa and France: Towards a New Engagement in Africa? (2003); and co-author (with Mueni wa Muiu) of A New Paradigm of the African State: Fundi wa Afrika (2009).

For most of its history, the African continent has witnessed momentous political change, remarkable philosophical innovation, and the complex cross-fertilization of ideologies and belief systems. This definitive study surveys the concepts, values, and historical upheavals that have shaped African political systems from the ancient period to the postcolonial era and beyond. Beginning with the emergence of indigenous political institutions, it traces the most important developments in African history, including the Africanization of Islam, liberal democratic movements, socialism, Pan-Africanism, and Africanist-Populist resistance to the neoliberal world order. The result is an invaluable resource on a region too often ignored in the history of political thought.

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