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Africa Doesn't Matter: How the West Has Failed the Poorest Continent and What We Can Do About It

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This book is not a self righteous tirade against developed countries not doing enough. Rather, it's a clear expose of what are the real problems facing poor African nations, why billions of dollars in public and private aid over many decades has done so little to raise standards of living in Africa, and, importantly, what you and I as citizens of the developed west can do to make a real difference.

Surprisingly, his answer is not "The West must give more money."

He develops his case from both personal experience and careful research. Drawing on economic data from World Bank and other sources, Bolton lays out the relief industry in easy to follow charts - where the money comes from, where it goes, how effective is it.

He sketches out the African historical context, from pre-colonial times, to the century-long period of western colonization, the wars of independence, and the current political and economic struggle to ascend from poverty.

View the full review at http://insidework.net/resources/readinglist/does-africa-matter

A great book on the subject. As I read the book (almost finished) I'm amazed at how clearly he exposes the issues surrounding Africa, development (or lack of), trade, corruption, aid, etc.

I've always wondered why was Africa so poor and with such an apparent lack of prospects. I remember way back many, many years ago, a school trip to an exhibit on africa and poverty. There was great emphasis (almost exclusive) on corruption and western aid. As the book explains, yes: corruption is a big problem and yes: western nations do provide some aid. But both aid and corruption have a story to tell of their own. As well as many other factors.

The reality is that Africa's story has a lot to do with the Western world. And to the Western world "Africa doesn't matter" even though our actions have a big effect on African people.

Again: it's a great book, very well written, very clear insights into the issues surrounding Africa.


*** update ***

I've just returned from working in Nigeria (for just over a year) as an expatriate in the oil and gas industry. And I can now truly say "I get it". Wow, what an eye opener. I find the book still valid (and very good reading), but it misses to cover/ mention the truly, truly "why" of Africa. It's something that needs to be experienced and difficult to explain concisely.

Don't waste your time on this whining, disjointed diatribe. Get a real book with real solutions in it, "Banker to the Poor" for example, which shows how the west can apply intelligent market solutions on a micro level to improve lives on a global scale.Banker To The Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty

Gilels Bolton in this Africa book does have some salient points, such as the sledge hammer approach used by NGO and Banker-types who want to write reports, generate budgets, and get reimbursed for so called "high risk" assignments to pad their paychecks. I've seen those men and women, sitting in nice hotels in Gulu and Kampala, Uganda, writing reports on shiny laptops before they speed away in Landrovers. I never saw any of them in the IDP camps or villages actually learning or doing anything. But the money rolled in and rolled right back out to their payrolls.

In fairness, this is a book about the failures of the west, and it is true that the west did not create the Grameen bank, or the Village Phone project, etc. So it's true that the west is floundering, working against itself and failing to really help at the level it could, based on resources available to wealthy countries. And he does have some general ideas on how to improve our efforts, mostly centered around restructuring trade rules and getting large USA interests to stop hogging all the donor dollars so they can be spent inside the developing countries.

On the other hand, why aren't failures of African leaders, like corruption figures detailed as carefully as USAID budget numbers, or WTO failures? Corruption in African leadership is now considered just the cost of doing business, siphoning off so much money that the poor see almost nothing. The problem is mentioned repeatedly but then quickly brushed away to the margins, to keep the finger pointed directly at the west for all the blame.

Yes it's sad to see such things so indemic to Africa, but there are some real solutions happening that raise living standards, health and lives of families often with help from western finance and workers. The Grameen bank has been emulated in many ways in Africa, applying the laws of self-interest and economics of personal wealth to dramatically change lives. The Nobel committee recognized it, and rewarded microenterprise innovator Muhammad Yunus for his profound contributions over 30 years, in 2006.

So, much as I admire Mr. Bolton's heart, I can't say his book will help at all. I'm sorry but as someone who has been to Uganda and worked in the camps, I hoped for a better book, at least one that reflects more careful thought and more up-to-date research into the stunning improvements microfinance (for example) bring when the creative and enterprising people of Africa are empowered to work on their own problems.